In the first part of this thesis, the construction of the novel bifunctional proline-(1R,2R)-2-aminoDMAP organocatalyst backbone is described. Target compound has both Lewis base and Br&oslash / nsted acid catalaphoric sites. The Lewis base site is synthesized via selective mono-N-pyridilization of trans-(1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine by Cu catalysis and Br&oslash / nsted acid site is subsequently introduced by anchoring L-proline unit. In the second part, catalytic activities of organocatalysts are tested in asymmetric Michael addition reaction between a cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compound 4-hydroxycoumarin and various &alpha / ,&beta / -unsaturated ketones to afford optically active warfarin as anticoagulants, in one step. Reaction parameters such as solvent, temperature, equivalency, and cocatalyst were screened. Enantiomeric excess value (ee) up to 72% is attained.

The development of novel asymmetric reaction methodologies has been invaluable in both the academic and industrial world. In just 15 years, organocatalysis has provided a new means of developing asymmetric reaction methodologies using catalysts that are environmentally benign, relatively inexpensive, bench stable, and non-toxic. One development in organocatalysis that is important to our group in particular is chiral phosphoric acid-catalysis. BINOL-derived and VAPOL-derived phosphoric acids have proven to be excellent catalysts for a number of reactions. The two projects I will discuss my efforts on are acetalization and iso-Pictet-Spengler reactions. These were projects that I performed during my first two years as a graduate student. The acetalization was particularly fascinating as only one literature report existed for the catalytic asymmetric variant of a reaction that makes such important compounds--O,O-acetals. The acetalization reaction proved to be a formidable opponent, and to this date no research report has been published documenting the intra-, or intermolecular catalytic asymmetric acetalization of vinyl ethers or the intermolecular catalytic asymmetric transacetalization. The iso-Pictet-Spengler reaction is one that is interesting because exhaustive research has been conducted into the development of catalytic asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reactions, but at the time of my research, not a single catalytic asymmetric method existed to synthesize tetrahydro-γ-carbolines, the product of the iso-Pictet-Spengler reaction. Structurally, the tetrahydro-γ-carboline is isomeric to the tetrahydro-β-carboline, the product of the Pictet-Spengler reaction. They differ only in the position of nitrogen in the annulated product. This reaction seemed attractive to investigate, since independent elegant reports by Professors Benjamin List, Henk Hiemstra, and Darren Dixon documented the excellent control over enantioselectivity that chiral phosphoric acid have in the Pictet-Spengler reaction. Concurrent with the beginning stages of this project, Professor Eric Jacobsen reported the enantioselective thiourea-catalyzed iso-Pictet-Spengler reaction. The results were very good but not as great as the Pictet-Spengler work he pioneered. Around the time this report came out I commenced my reaction studies, and this thesis is the sum of just two projects I worked on. There were many more including halolactonization, VAPOL synthesis, chiral phosphoric acid synthesis, catalytic asymmetric hydroamination, and others.

No description available.

The research presented in this dissertation focuses on chiral BINOL metal phosphatephosphoric acid catalyzed enantioselective additions of phosphorus and sulfur nucleophiles to imines and epoxides. In chapter 2, we reported a new method to synthesize chiral amino phosphine oxides. The reaction combines N-substituted imines and diphenylphosphine oxide catalyzed by chiral magnesium 9-antryl phosphate. A wide variety of aliphatic and aromatic aldimines substituted by electron neutral benzhydryl or dibenzocycloheptene groups were excellent substrates for the addition reaction. The imines protected with dibenzocycloheptene protecting group provided better enantioselectivity than those protected with benzhydryl group, while both imines gave comparable yields. Also, the substituted diphenylphosphine oxides were excellent nucleophiles obtaining chiral α-amino phosphine oxides in good yields and enantioselectivities. In chapter 3, we reported the first catalytic asymmetric method to prepare enantioenriched N,S-acetals catalyzed TRIP phosphoric acids. The reaction combined N-acyl imines with thiols to generate products in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. Electron-rich and electron-deficient aromatic N-acyl imines were excellent substrate for the addition reaction. A wide range of aliphatic and aromatic thiols obtained the N,S-acetals in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The TRIP phosphoric acid was found to be an extremely efficient catalyst for the transformation, resulting in asymmetric induction at extremely low catalyst loading. In chapter 4, a highly enantioselective method for desymmetrization of meso-epoxides using thiols catalyzed by substituted BINOL lithium phosphate is reported. This is the first example of epoxide activation using metal phosphate is reported. Various five and six membered aliphatic cyclic meso-epoxides were excellent substrates for the desymmetrization reaction; aromatic acyclic epoxides also reacted with excellent yield and asymmetric induction. Similarly electron rich and electron deficient aromatic thiols obtained the β-hydroxyl sulfides in excellent yields and enantioselectivities.

Part 1: Transition-metal-catalyzed direct transformations of aromatic C-H bonds are emerging as valuable tools in organic synthesis. These reactions are attractive because of they allow for inherently efficient construction of organic building blocks by minimizing the pre-activation of substrates. Of these processes, direct arylation has recently received much attention due to the importance of the biaryl core in medicinal and materials chemistry. Also, alkyne hydroarylation has garnered interest because it allows for the atom-economical synthesis of functionalized alkenes directly from simple arenes and alkynes. Described in this thesis are number of advancements in these areas. First, palladium catalyzed direct arylation of azine N-oxides using synthetically important aryl triflates is described. Interesting reactivity of aryl triflates compared to aryl bromides was uncovered and exploited in the synthesis of a compound that exhibits antimalarial and antimicrobial activity. Also reported is the efficient, direct arylation enabled (formal) synthesis of six thiophene based organic electronic materials in high yields using simple starting materials. Additionally, the site-selective direct arylation of both sp2 and sp3 sites on azine N-oxide substrates is described. The arylation reactions are carried out in either a divergent manner or a sequential manner and is applied to the synthesis of the natural products, Papaverine and Crykonisine. Mechanistic investigations point towards the intimate involvement of the base in the mechanism of these reactions. Next, the rhodium(III)-catalyzed hydroarylation of internal alkynes is described. Good yields are obtained for a variety of alkynes and arenes with excellent regioselectivity for unsymmetrically substituted alkynes. Mechanistic investigations suggest that this reaction proceeds through arene metalation with the cationic rhodium catalyst, which enables challenging intermolecular reactivity. Part 2: Access to single enantiomer compounds is a fundamental goal in organic chemistry and despite remarkable advances in enantioselective synthesis, their preparation remains a challenge. Kinetic resolution of racemic products is an important method to access enantioenriched compounds, especially when alternative methods are scarce. Described in this thesis is the resolution of tertiary and secondary alcohols, which arise from ketone and aldehyde aldol additions. The method is technically simple, easily scalable, and provides tertiary and secondary alcohols in high enantiomeric ratios. A rationale for the unique reactivity/selectivity associated with (1S,2R)-N-methylephedrine in the resolution is proposed. Organocatalysis is a rapidly developing, powerful field for the construction of enantioenriched organic molecules. Described here is a complimentary class of organocatalysis using simple aldehydes as temporary tethers to perform challenging formally intermolecular reactions at room temperature. This strategy allows for the enantioselective, intermolecular cope-type hydroamination of allylic amines with hydroxyl amines. Also, interesting catalytic reactivity for dichloromethane is revealed.

Computational chemistry employs mathematical algorithms, statistics, and large databases to integrate chemical theory with experimental observations. Computational modeling allows us to make predictions concerning molecular properties and reactivity that ultimately lead to accurate assessment of the most important fundamental properties of chemical systems. Advances in theoretical techniques and computer power have dramatically increased the usefulness and importance of computational chemistry as a complement to experimental studies. This is especially relevant to catalytic reactions of industrial importance as well as the analysis of structural properties and the resulting spectroscopic phenomena in what are often otherwise counterintuitive models. This dissertation is a representation of the research I performed during my years as a graduate student in the Chemistry Department at the University of North Texas. My research has examined novel carbenes as efficient organocatalysts, structure-based design and optimization of small molecule drugs, and surveying methods to accurately describe structure and bonding and catalytic abilities of inorganic and organometallic systems. The works presented herein have been published or are awaiting submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals. A variety of computational techniques were employed in studying metal-mediated catalysis and organocatalysis as well as the structural and photophysical properties of systems containing closed-shell transition metal ions.

This thesis describes the combination of non-stabilized nucleophiles and prochiral/racemic electrophiles in transition metal catalyzed asymmetric transformations. These enantioselective reactions have tremendous potential for the formation of chiral building blocks and new structural motifs that can be found in a variety of natural products and their derivatives. The first part of the thesis focuses on the synthetic approach towards anti-cancer active diterpenoid structures. The two key steps involve a Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of alkylzirconocenes to enones and an intramolecular oxidative cyclisation. Particular investigations into the cyclisation are made with organocatalysis, transition metal catalysis and electrochemistry for the formation of these tricyclic scaffolds. In the second part this work builds on the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of benzeneboronic acids and cyclic allyl chlorides, which has been developed in our group. Here, the main point is to use more challenging coupling partners, such as heteroaromatic boronic acids, which are coupled to racemic cyclic allyl halides. The utility of this method is demonstrated by performing further transformations and an asymmetric synthesis of the natural product (+)- isoanabasine. The last chapter describes the development of a new asymmetric Hiyama coupling of arylsiloxanes with racemic cyclic allyl chloride. Attempts are made to generate substrates that are not accessible via the asymmetric Suzuki - Miyaura reaction. After extensive optimisation a variety of arylsiloxanes is generated and tested with the best conditions to prove its utility in comparison to the asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura coupling.

143 f. / Submitted by Ana Hilda Fonseca (anahilda@ufba.br) on 2013-09-24T14:26:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Maria Candeia Kuliakita.pdf: 4339184 bytes, checksum: 54063fe95edeaa2662c649acf009c9ae (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Hilda Fonseca(anahilda@ufba.br) on 2013-09-24T14:27:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Maria Candeia Kuliakita.pdf: 4339184 bytes, checksum: 54063fe95edeaa2662c649acf009c9ae (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-24T14:27:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Maria Candeia Kuliakita.pdf: 4339184 bytes, checksum: 54063fe95edeaa2662c649acf009c9ae (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / CNPq / Desenvolveram-se neste trabalho atividades experimentais empregando as reações de Mannich, utilizando-se o dímero di-hidróxi-acetona, um derivado da glicerina. A glicerina obtém-se como co- produto da produção de biodiesel. Sem êxitos nas tentativas feitas para a reação de Mannich, partiu-se então para reações aldólicas organocatalisadas. Nesta rota preparou-se a di-hidroxi-acetona sililada (97% de rendimento), que foi empregada como reagente na reação aldólica com o 4-nitrobenzaldeído. O aldol foi obtido como mistura enantiomérica enriquecida, na proporção diastereoisomérica de 5:1 (syn/anti). Posterior acetilação em 90% de rendimento permitiu avaliar, através de HPLC com coluna quiral, o excesso enantiomérico em cerca de 90%. O aldol acetilado teve seu grupo TBS primário removido (96-100 % de rendimento). No entanto, as tentativas de oxidação e preparação do ácido não foram exitosas. Como alternativa, reações de redução para a obtenção de dióis foram feitas obtendo-se dióis com estreoquímica relativa 1,3-anti em rendimento de 80%. Reações de redução por aminação também foram realizadas, mas sem resultados satisfatórios. Em paralelo a estas reações foram preparados derivados de ácidos triterpênicos (ácidos betulínico e ursólico), triterpenos (lupeol) e esteroides (estigmasterol e β-sitosterol) com ácidos oleico e hexanoico, preparando-se compostos com potencial atividade anticâncer e anti-AIDS. / Salvador

Chemical probes are necessary for elucidating the biochemical roles of proteins. Bromodomains are protein-interaction modules found in a family of proteins implicated in the epigenetic regulation of transcription; however, the individual roles remain unknown for many bromodomain proteins, without potent and selective ligands available to assist in their study. From lead compounds, a structure-based drug discovery program was to be explored with the use of biophysical assays and appropriate chemical methods to expediate development of probes against a number of these proteins. A fragment lead against BRD4 was developed into PNZ5, a potent (K_D 5 nM) BRD4 probe with a high ligand efficiency. Although enantioselective syntheses and the use of an alternative synthetic route were unsuccessful, PNZ5 showed cytotoxic activity against gastric cancer cell lines that had proved resilient to existing anticancer agents. Optimisation of a lead compound against BRD9 resulted in the development of LP99, the first reported BRD7/9 probe, that was potent (BRD9 K_D 99 nM, BRD7 K_D 909 nM), selective amongst bromodomain proteins and active in cells. An enantioselective synthesis was performed using chiral organocatalyts and LP99 was used to identify a previously unknown role of BRD7/9 in the regulation of inflammatory processes. Research is ongoing to assess further biochemical roles of these proteins with LP99. Arising from a more potent lead against BRD9, a series of structurally related compounds were synthesised to explore SAR around this ligand, however no improvement on the affinity of the lead was realised. Finally, based on disclosed lead structures against PCAF, a series of compounds were synthesised to replicate their activity. A number of important binding interactions were assessed and a lead structure was identified (K_D 1 μM). Development is ongoing to progress this lead into the first reported PCAF probe.

xx, 214 p. : ill. (some col.) / Intramolecular cascading Michael additions have the ability to transform simple, symmetric substrates into densely functionalized compounds containing new ring structures and chiral centers. The Rauhut-Currier (RC) reaction, also known as the vinylogous Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction, utilizes this type of reactivity by cyclizing tethered, activated alkenes using phosphine or thiolate catalysis. This dissertation describes the expansion of the scope of the RC reaction, the introduction and importance of co-catalysts to cascading Michael additions, the development of the first amine-catalyzed RC reaction, and the transformation of cyclization products into fused, polycyclic aromatic compounds. Chapter I reviews the development and applications of the Rauhut-Currier reaction. Chapter II describes the regioselective synthesis of di-substituted indenes and introduces phenol as a rate- and selectivity-enhancing co-catalyst. Although tertiary amine nucleophiles were found to be inferior to phosphines as cyclization catalysts, chapter III discusses the ability of unhindered primary and secondary amines to undergo a diastereoselective, cascading aza-Michael-Michael addition to yield a wide variety of amino-indanes in the presence of an acid catalyst. Recognizing the importance of protic environments and small nucleophiles, the development of the first amine-catalyzed intramolecular RC is introduced in chapter IV. Chapter V describes the conversion of methyl ketone-substituted indenes to fluorene derivatives via an intramolecular aldol reaction. Chapter VI describes the serendipitous discovery and synthesis of indenopyrylium salts. Chapter VII details the novel production of indenopyridines from di-substituted indenes. Lastly, chapter VIII provides a summary and suggests future directions for this research. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Shih-Yuan Liu, Chairperson; Kenneth Doxsee, Advisor; David Tyler, Member; Michael Haley, Member; A. Dana Johnston, Outside Member