This thesis describes the synthesis, characterisation and coordination chemistry of a variety of fluorinated ß-diketonate ligands (I) and carboxylate ligands (II), the catalytic activity of the resultant metal complexes for oxidation and C-C bond forming reactions, and an evaluation of fluorous methodologies for catalyst/product separation. (Fig. 3706) Chapter 1 introduces the concept and application of fluorous methodologies, including fluorous biphase catalysis and fluorous reverse phase silica gel (FRPSG), as alternative approaches to product/catalyst separation in homogeneous catalysis. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis and characterisation, in some cases by X-ray diffraction, of the fluorinated ß-diketonate ligands and an evaluation of the influence of the perfluoroalkyl groups on the coordination of these ligands to a variety of transition metals including copper, nickel, palladium and zinc. Chapter 3 outlines attempts to sue fluorous nickel ß-diketonate complexes for the oxidation of sulfides. The results indicate that a metal catalyst is not necessary for oxidation in this system although the veracity of catalyst separation using FRPSG was established. This chapter also describes the investigation of a fluorous molybdenum ß-diketonate complex for the oxidation of alkenes, although the extreme moisture senstiviity of the complex negated any attempts at recovery and recycling. The scope of Lewis acid catalysed coupling of ß-diketones with cyanoformates and the ability to reuse and recycle the fluorinated ß-diketonate catalysts is described in chapter 4. Chapter 5 describes attempts to extend this efficient separation procedure to the C-C bond forming reactions of rhodium carboxylate dimers. Although catalysis was observed, catalyst/product separation using FRPSG was unsuccessful. Chapter 6 summarises all the experimental details and spectroscopic data, whilst a CD-rom includes all of the crystallographic data.

In this thesis, firstly, a Pd-catalysed diastereoselective carbocyclisation of allenes with aryl halides or vinyl iodides was designed and developed to form arylative or vinylative spirolactam compounds. High yields and diastereoselectivities were obtained in the presence of Pd₂(dba)₃/dppe and K₂CO₃ in DMSO at 70 &deg;C, particularly when spiropiperidin-2-ones were formed. The method is simple to perform and broad in scope. Having established the diastereoselective methodology for the arylative or vinylative allene carbocyclisation, a Pd-catalysed enantioselective version was developed by using bisoxazolines as chiral ligands. Aryl halides and vinyl iodides were investigated in this carbocyclisation. High yields and enantioselectivities were obtained in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂, a bisoxazoline ligand <strong>L7d</strong> derived from L-isoleucine and Ag₃PO₄ in 1,2-dichloroethane at 70 &deg;C. No olefin isomerisation was observed when cis-vinyl iodides were used. The method is mild, efficient and broad in scope. A palladium catalysed diastereoselective allene carbocyclisation reaction was developed via enamine catalysis and palladium catalysis, which allows for the efficient carbocyclisation of formyl or ketone allenes. Good yields and high diastereoselectivities were obtained in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ and pyrrolidine in toluene at 60 °C when formyl allenes were investigated. The cyclisation is diastereoselective and can also performed as a catalytic asymmetric reaction by using prolinol derivatives as chiral catalysts. Good yields and high diastereo- and enantioselectivities were obtained in the presence of catalyst <strong>(S)-L19</strong>. Additionally, a boronic acid catalysed ene carbocyclisation of acetylenic dicarbonyl compounds was developed. An attempted transesterification of a &beta;-ketoester substrate bearing a pendent terminal alkyne substituent at the &beta;-position led to the discovery of an efficient 3-nitrobenzeneboronic acid catalysed ene carbocyclisation of acetylenic dicarbonyl compounds. The reaction is easy to perform, efficient, broad in scope and provides a convenient transition metal-free alternative to existing catalytic protocols.

trans-2,5-Disubstituted tetrahydrofurans (THFs) are a common structural motif in a multitude of biologically active natural products. This thesis explores new synthetic routes for their synthesis and subsequent application towards the C_31-40 fragment of pectenotoxin-4. <b>Chapter 1: Introduction</b> This chapter reviews methods for the synthesis of trans-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans with a special emphasis on those that have been applied towards the synthesis of natural products. <b>Chapter 2: Results and Discussion</b> The Acyloin Coupling Reaction towards trans-THFs A brief overview of the acyloin coupling reaction is followed by description of the aim for this part of the project, using this process as a key step towards trans-THFs. Work directed towards the stereoselective protonation of the bis-enolate intermediate formed during the acyloin coupling is discussed. The exploitation of A^1,3 strain was the most effective strategy found to control the diastereoselectivity in the protonation of the bis-enolate intermediate. Desymmetrisation Using Sharpless Asymmetric Epoxidation towards trans-THFs Strategy developed towards the synthesis of a 2,5-disubstituted 3-hydroxy trans-THF is studied. The optimisation of the synthesis of meso-hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-diol was examined and subsequent desymmetrisation using the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation was explored. Approaches towards the FG Fragment of Pectenotoxin-4 The previous synthesis of the FG fragment was reviewed. Details of the retrosynthesis to be employed for the preparation of the southern hemisphere of pectenotoxin-4 are discussed. The desymmetrisation strategy previously explored was applied towards forming the F ring of pectenotoxin-4. The C_31-40 carbon skeleton was successfully formed in 12 steps using a convergent synthesis. The elucidation of an X-ray crystal structure requires further exploration to confirm the relative and absolute configuration of the THF formed. <b>Chapter 3: Experimental</b> Full experimental procedures and characterisation of compounds are reported.

The first part of this thesis presents a novel approach for synthesising enantioenriched cyclic allylsilanes via asymmetric ring-closing metathesis (ARCM). The second part of this thesis focuses on the reactivity of allylsilanes in electrophilic trifluoromethylation under transition metal and photoredox catalysis. <strong>Chapter 1</strong> provides a general introduction to existing methods for preparing compounds containing Si-stereogenic centres. The motivation for using ARCM to form Si-stereogenic centres is discussed. To set the stage for this work, the development of olefin metathesis as a tool in organic synthesis is briefly summarised. <strong>Chapter 2</strong> describes the synthesis of various prochiral silicon-containing trienes and their reactivity in Ru-, Mo- and W-catalysed ring-closing metathesis. . Following extensive screening of chiral catalysts, few catalysts were identified that enabled selective ARCM to access Si-stereogenic products in up to 98% ee. A systematic investigation of the relationship between the structure of the starting material (i.e., hydrocarbon chain length, steric and electronic properties of the silicon substituents) and the resulting efficacy in ARCM was undertaken, the results from these experiments are discussed. Importantly, this study represents the first example in which ARCM has been successfully used to desymmetrise prochiral substrates to form a new chiral Si centre (Scheme 1). <strong>Chapter 3</strong> provides a general introduction to the field of trifluoromethylation, with a special focus on recent applications of transition metal catalysts in Csp²–CF₃ and Csp³–CF₃ bond formation. A myriad of effective nucleophilic, electrophilic and radical trifluromethylating reagents have been developed during the past several years; the properties of these reagents and their compatibility with various modes of catalysis are summarised to provide a context for the second part of this thesis research. <strong>Chapter 4</strong> presents two novel methods for effecting trifluoromethylation of allylsilanes . First, it was discovered that the combination of an electrophilic trifluoromethlyating reagent and a copper catalyst effectively mediated trifluoromethylation of allylsilanes. The silicon substituent was crucial for improving the nucleophilicity of the substrate and dictating the regioselectivity of the Csp³–CF₃ bond-forming step. With this method, alkyl or aryl substitution at the &beta;-position of the allylsilane was critical for reactivity. Second, in a complementary study, it was found that copper could be replaced by a ruthenium photocatalyst and visible light. This latter method allowed for trifluoromethylation of substrates that were ineffective with copper catalysis. Mechanistic studies of both reaction systems were undertaken, and plausible reaction pathways for both reactions are proposed. <strong>Chapter 5</strong> gives full experimental procedures and characterisation data for all compounds.

This thesis is concerned with the development of ring-closing iodoamination and ringexpansion methodology and its subsequent application to the asymmetric syntheses of pyrrolidine and piperidine iminosugars. <strong>Chapter 1</strong> highlights the remarkable biological properties displayed by iminosugars and introduces methods for the formation of the pyrrolidine and piperidine sub-classes. <strong>Chapter 2</strong> describes investigations into the ring-closing iodoamination of bishomoallylic amines which occurs with concomitant <i>N</i>-debenzylation to give an iodomethyl pyrrolidine scaffold. Conversion to the corresponding aziridinium species followed by its regioselective intermolecular ring-opening by H₂O enabled the synthesis of (+)-2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-Dglucitol (DGDP). A protocol for the preparation of its 1-deoxy-1-amino analogue (+)-ADGDP was also developed. <strong>Chapter 3</strong> details studies into the ring-expansion of iodomethyl pyrrolidine scaffolds via the trapping of CO₂ (from NaHCO₃) to produce cyclic carbonates as single diastereoisomers. Subsequent deprotection of these piperidines allowed the syntheses of (−)-1-deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ) and (+)-1-deoxyallonojirimycin (DANJ) to be completed. <strong>Chapter 4</strong> delineates investigations into the trapping of alternative “X=C=Y” electrophiles, via the ring-expansion methodology developed in Chapter 3, initially utilising a model system. These studies culminated in the development of the trapping of <i>p</i>-TsNCO and the application of this methodology in the total asymmetric syntheses of (−)-ADMJ and (+)-ADANJ, the 2-deoxy-2-amino analogues of (−)-DMJ and (+)-DANJ, respectively. <strong>Chapter 5</strong> contains full experimental procedures and characterisation data for all compounds synthesised in Chapters 2, 3 and 4.

The development of peptides as catalysts for preparing optically active molecules is an ongoing investigation. Efforts at expanding the use of peptides are explored in two ways: investigating novel reactions in which peptides can act as asymmetric catalysts and through expanding the substrate scope of peptides in performing kinetic resolutions. Attempts at furthering the reaction scope of acylsulfonamide-containing peptides to act as BrØnsted acids through promoting the attack of 7-methyl oct-6-ene-1-tosylaziridine (9) by an internal π-nucleophile are discussed herein. Also reported is the use of pentameric peptides containing a π(-methyl)histidine residue in the kinetic resolution of the primary alcohol 4-hydroxymethyl cyclopent-2-enone (76) and the secondary aliphatic alcohol 2- pentanol. Moderate selectivities were observed in the kinetic resolution of 4-hydroxymethyl cyclopent-2-enone (76) and promising results were obtained in the initial screening of catalysts for the resolution of 2-pentanol. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2008. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Thesis advisor: James P. Morken / Sesquiterpene quinones are a prolific class of marine natural products that are particularly interesting due to their antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inhibitory properties. Hundreds of these biologically active molecules are based on decalin frameworks, both cis- as well as trans-fused, however, significantly less synthetic work has focused on targeting the cis-fused series of compounds. In this chapter, progress towards an asymmetric, general route to various sesquiterpene quinones in the cleordane family of natural products will be described. The key steps of the synthesis include a highly convergent and diastereoselective reductive alkylation to forge both the requisite cis-ring fusion well as the all carbon quaternary center, as well as a scandium-catalyzed ring expansion of a 6,5-ring system to deliver the decalin core of the molecule. Additionally, the chapter includes the development and substrate scope of both methodologies utilized in the key complexity building reactions. Iron complexes ligated by bis(imino)pyridine ligands are remarkably active catalysts for a vast range of organic transformations including polymerization, hydrogenation, hydrosilylation, and hydroboration. Whereas much work has been done to probe the importance of the imine-substituents on catalysis, significantly less information is known about the nature of the central pyridine donor. To study the effects of a more donating ligand in which the pyridine is replaced with an N-heterocyclic carbene, a series of novel ligands and their corresponding iron complexes were synthesized and characterized. Whereas imidazole-derived complexes exhibited exclusively bidentate binding modes, 4,5,6-trihydropyrimidylidene-based ligands adopted a tridentate pincer conformation analogous to complexes of bis(imino)pyridines. Bonding in the five-coordinate bis(imino)-N-heterocyclic carbene complex displayed considerably contracted iron-ligand bond distances compared to the analogous bis(imino)pyridine iron complex. The study of physical and electronic structure and bonding in organometallic compounds is a critical for understanding and predicting complex behavior and reactivity. Having synthesized a completely new type of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand and the corresponding iron complex, a rigorous study of metal-NHC bonding, magnetism, and redox activity in bis(imino)-NHC (or carbenodiimine, CDI) complexes of iron was carried out. A series of oxidation and reduction reactions on CDI complexes of iron were performed, enabling access to complexes spanning from formally iron(0) to iron (III) oxidation states. A battery of spectroscopic and computational methods, including X-ray crystallography, Mössbauer spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry, and EPR spectroscopy established the CDI ligand as a redox active chelator. Additionally, a unique iron-carbene interaction was discovered, in which the metal center antiferromagnetically couples with the carbon of the NHC. Intent on developing CDI complexes of iron into practical catalysts for both synthetic organic transformations and polymerization, a series of stoichiometric as well as catalytic reactions were carried out to evaluate the reactivity profile of the novel complexes. Halide atom abstraction generated a new cationic species, which demonstrated different coordination chemistry compared to the bis(imino)pyridine analogue. Furthermore, the addition of a hydride or alkyl lithium reagent to the parent (CDI)FeCl2 species resulted in interesting and unexpected reactivity involving the carbene ligand. Preliminary catalytic hydrogenation experiments established (CDI)FeCl2 as a competent catalyst for the reduction of simple alkenes in the presence of Na(Hg) as a reductant under 80 psi of hydrogen. Additionally, the dichloride species could be readily converted into bis(aryloxide) complexes that were active for the polymerization of lactide to produce poly(lactic acid). The polymerization is very controlled (PDI values are <1.3), and polymers with molecular weights of around 35 kDa can be obtained after 3 hours at room temperature. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Orientadora: Lucia Maria Xavier Lopes / Banca: Nivaldo Boralle / Banca: Luis Octávio Regasini / Banca: Hosana Maria Debonsi / Banca: Jairo Kenupp Bastos / Resumo: Este trabalho descreve um estudo comparativo da variabilidade química intraespecífica de espécies de Aristolochia cordigera, coletadas em duas regiões diferentes do Brasil, Bioma Cerrado (semiárido) e Bioma Amazônia (litoral). A utilização de CG-EM e métodos estatísticos levaram a identificação de 56 compostos. Altas concentrações de palmitona e germacreno-D nos extratos hexânicos de folhas das plantas destes respectivos biomas, caracterizam a procedência da planta. Os estudos fitoquímicos dos extratos levaram ao isolamento e identificação de 19 compostos conhecidos, incluindo lignanas, neolignanas, ácidos aristolóquicos, indol-β-carbolina e alcaloides indólicos. Além disso, dois novos alcaloides indólicos, 3,4-dihidro-hirtiosulawesina e 6-O-(β-glucopiranosil)hirtiosulawesina foram isolados e cis-eupomatenoide-7, uma nova neolignana, foi obtida em mistura com o seu isômero conhecido eupomatenoide-7. Suas estruturas foram determinadas por métodos espectroscópicos, principalmente por RMN 1D e 2D e HRESIMS, sendo que a ocorrência de alcaloides indólicos está sendo descrita pela primeira vez na família Aristolochiaceae. Também foram avaliadas a susceptibilidade in vitro de formas amastigotas intracelulares e formas promastigotas de Leishmania amazonensis dos alcaloides e do eupomatenoide-7. Esta neolignana apresentou baixa atividade contra formas promastigotas (IC50 de 46 μM) e toxicidade contra formas amastigotas em concentrações de 50 e 100 μM, enquanto que os alcaloides não ap... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This work describes a comparative study on the intraspecific chemical variability of Aristolochia cordigera species, collected in two different regions of Brazil, Biome Cerrado (semi-arid) and Biome Amazônia (coastal). The used of GC-MS and statistical methods led to identification of 56 compounds. Higher concentrations of palmitone and germacrene-D in the hexanes extracts of the leaves of plants from these respective biomes characterized the plant provenance. Moreover, phytochemical studies on the extracts led to the isolation and identification of 19 known compounds, including lignans, neolignans, aristolochic acids, indole-β-carboline and indole alkaloids. In addition, two new indole alkaloids, 3,4-dihydro-hyrtiosulawesine and 6-O-(β-glucopyranosyl)hyrtiosulawesine were isolated and cis-eupomatenoid-7, a new neolignan, was obtained in a mixture with its known isomer eupomatenoid-7. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, mainly by 1D- and 2D-NMR and HRESIMS. The occurrence of indole alkaloids is being described for the first time in the Aristolochiaceae family. Moreover, the in vitro susceptibility of intracellular amastigotes and promastigotes forms of Leishmania amazonensis to the alkaloids and eupomatenoid-7 was evaluated. This neolignan exhibited low activity against promastigotes (IC50 = 46 µM) and toxicity against amastigotes at concentrations of 50 and 100 µM, while the alkaloids did not show inhibitory activity at the same experimental conditions. Several of the isolated alkaloids were also evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum. The alkaloid 6-O-(β-glucopyranosyl)hyrtiosulawesine exhibited activity, with IC50 value of 5 µM and selectivity index (SI) higher than 50. The lignan 8'-epi-aristoligone and its 36 analogous, with different substituents on the A and C rings, were obtained by synthesis. The lignan was also transformed into... / Doutor

É apresentada a revisão bibliográfica de reações entre dicloronaftoquinona e nucleófilos de enxofre, nitrogênio e carbono. São descritas as reações de 2,3-dihalogeno-xiloquinonas com os mesmos nucleófilos, sendo isolados e caracterizadas, no total, 18 xiloquinonas substituídas novas. Enquanto, que as reações com nucleófilos de enxofre conduziram aos derivados ditio-substituídos, não sendo possível obter derivados monossubstituídos, no caso de nucleófilos de nitrogênio e carbono isolaram-se somente derivados monossubstituídos. Dentre as xiloquinonas substituídas, fazem parte vários derivados mistos de nitrogênio-enxofre, carbono -enxofre e carbono-nitrogênio. Foram também sintetizados e caracterizados dois novos mono-sulfinil derivados obtidos pela oxidação de dimetiltio-xiloquinona e dimetiltio-naftoquinona. Foi descrita uma nova reação entre mono sulfinil-metiltio-xiloquinona e cloreto de tionila, conduzindo à cloro-metiltio-xiloquinona. São discutidas as diferenças de reatividade e sugeridos os mecanismos para as reações descritas. São também apresentados os resultados de testes bacteriológicos preliminares. / The literature review of the reactions of dichloronafhtoquinone with nucleophiles of sulphur, nitrogen and carbon is presented. The experimental results of the reactions of 2,3-dihalogeno- xyloquinones with the same nucleophiles are reported, being isolated and identified 18 new 2,3-substituted xyloquinones. These are: di-sulphur, mono-nitrogen and mono-carbon, as well as nitrogen-sulphur, carbon-sulphur and carbon-nitrogen mixed substituted derivatives. No mono-sulphur or di-nitrogen or di-carbon-substituted xyloquinones could be isolated. Two new mono-sulphinyl derivatives, obtained by oxidation of dimethylthioxyloquinone and dimethylthionaphtoquinone, were isolated and identified. A new reaction between 2-sulphinyl-3-methylthioxyloquinone and thionyl chloride, leading to the 2-chloro-3-methylthioxyloquinone is described. The reactivity differences are discussed and the reaction mechanisms proposed. The preliminary test, reported for some new substituted xyloquinones, indicate that aziridinyl- and chloro-derivatives are biologically active.

Nesta tese, efetuamos estudos visando à síntese de sesquiterpenos bacanos, cuja etapa chave consistiu na construção do sistema cis-hidrindânico, através de reação de contração de anel de cis-octalinas e 2-octalonas mediada por trinitrato de tálio (TTN). Apenas as cis-octalinas como, por exemplo, o cis-4a-metil-l,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahidronaftaleno e o cis-4a, 7-dimetil-l,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octa-hidronaftaleno, foram passíveis de reação de contração de anel em rendimentos satisfatórios; já a cis-5,10-dimetil-l(9)-octal-2-ona levou ao produto de contração em baixo rendimento. Tentamos utilizar a reação de cis-4a-metil-l,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octa-hidronaftaleno com TTN na síntese da nor-baquenolida-A, porém não conseguimos completar a síntese desta, pois não foi possível efetuar a última etapa sintética, nas várias abordagens testadas. Grandes esforços também foram empregados na preparação diastereosseletiva da cis-5,10-dimetil-l(9)-octal-2-ona através de três abordagens diferentes que foram investigadas, sendo duas delas com êxito. Contudo, o baixo rendimento (38%) da etapa de contração de anel da cis-5,10-dimetil-l(9)-octal-2-ona não permitiu a continuação da rota sintética proposta para a baquenolida-A. Também realizamos a resolução cinética de três diferentes cis-octalóis que foram preparados através da reação de Diels-Alder seguida de redução diastereosseletiva - com a lipase Novozym 435, e os produtos resolvidos foram obtidos em excelentes rendimentos isolados (&#8805; 40% para cada enantiômero) e excelentes excessos enantioméricos (&#8805; 98%). / In this thesis, we have developed studies towards the synthesis of sesquiterpenes bakkanes, which key step consisted on the construction of the cis-hydrindanic system through a thallium(III) mediated ring contraction reaction of cis-decalins and 2-octalones. Only the cis-octalins, such as the 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-4a-methylnaphthalene and the 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-4a,7-dimethylnaphthalene, were able to be ring contracted in satisfactory yields; the 4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-4a,5-dimethylnaphthalen-2(3H)-one, however, furnished the ring contraction product in low yield. We tried to use the reaction of 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-4amethylnaphthalene with TTN in the synthesis of nor-bakkenolide-A, but we could not accomplish the synthesis because it was not possible to make the last step of the sequence, in all tested approaches. Great efforts were made in the diastereoselective preparation of the 4,4a,5,6, 7 ,8-hexahydro-4a,5-dimethylnaphthalen-2(3H)-one, through three different approaches that were investigated, being two of them with profit. However, the low yield (38%) of the ring contraction reaction of 4,4a,5,6, 7,8-hexahydro-4a,5-dimethylnaphthalen-2(3H)-one, precluded the continuation of the synthetic rout proposed to the bakkenolide-A. We have also performed the kinetic resolution of three different cis-octalols that were prepared through Diels-Alder reaction followed by diastereoselective reduction - with the Novozym 435 lipase, and the resolved products were isolated in excellent yields (&#8805; 40% for each enantiomer) and excellent ee\'s (&#8805; 98%).