Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit de thèse concernent la mise au point de nouvelles méthodologies de synthèse asymétrique en organocatalyse promues par des phénolates d’ammoniums quaternaires, catalyseurs de type paires d’ions coopératifs chirales, et des dérivés de l’acide de Meldrum comme substrats. Dans un premier temps, nous avons utilisé l’acide de Meldrum comme un précurseur de cétène via une cycloréversion induite par O-silylation grâce à une probase silylée, afin de réaliser une réaction de cycloaddition [2+2] avec un aldéhyde ou une imine catalysée par un phénolate d’ammonium chiral, permettant de former des β-lactones et des β-lactames. Les travaux effectués n’ont cependant pas permis d’obtenir le produit désiré. Dans un secont temps, nous avons exploité le caractère électrophile des dérivés disubstitués de l’acide de Meldrum et leur capacité à fragmenter suite à l’addition nucléophile d’un phénolate. Une première partie a été consacrée au développement d’une réaction monotope de désymétrisation de l’acide de Meldrum pour former des malonates dissymétriques après une étape d’alkylation in situ du carboxylate intermédiaire. Bien que de bons rendements isolés aient été obtenus, un maximum de 21% ee a pu seulement être atteint. Dans une seconde partie, nous avons mis au point une séquence originale, catalysée par un phénolate d’ammonium quaternaire chiral, qui est constituée (1) d’une addition nucléophile de phénolate suivie (2) d’une fragmentation avec perte d’acétone qui permet, après (3) une étape de décarboxylation de générer un acétal de cétène acyclique qui va subir (4) une réaction de protonation énantiosélective. Cette méthode a pu être appliquée à un large panel de substrats avec de bons rendements et des excès énantiomériques allant jusqu’à 70% ee. / The work developed in this PhD thesis deals with the development of new asymmetric organocatalytic methodologies implying cooperative chiral ion pairing catalysis, by using chiral ammonium phenoxides as catalysts and Meldrum’s acid derivatives as substrates. First, we used the ability of Meldrum’s acid to generate acylketenes after cycloversion triggered by O-silylation thanks to a silylated probase in the presence of a chiral ammonium phenoxide. Such an approach was applied to the synthesis of β-lactones and β-lactames following a [2+2] cycloaddition reaction with aldehydes or imines respectively. Unfortunately, the desired products have never been observed. Then, we focused on disubstitued derivatives of Meldrum’s acids and their propensity to fragment after a nucleophilic addition of phenoxide. In a first part, we have developed a one-pot desymmetrization reaction of Meldrum’s acid derivatives to form dissymmetric malonates after an in-situ alkylation of the transient carboxylate. However, despite high isolated yields, only an unsatisfactory 21% ee could be reached. In a second part, we have developed an unprecedented sequence consisting of (1) a nucleophilic addition of phenol derivatives to Meldrum’s acid followed by (2) a fragmentation with loss of acetone, leading after (3) decaboxylation to the formation of an acyclic ketene acetal which is involved in (4) an enantioselective protonation reaction to provide a wide range of enantioenriched phenolic esters with moderate to excellent yield and up to 70% ee.

We report on a novel and simple approach to surface ligand design of CdSe-based nanocrystals (NCs) with biocompatible, heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules. This method provides high transfer yields of the NCs into aqueous media with preservation of the narrow and symmetric emission bands of the initial organic-capped NCs regardless of their interior crystal structure and surface chemistry. The PEG-functionalized NCs show small sizes, high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 75%, as well as impressive optical and colloidal stability. This universal approach is applied to different fluorescent nanomaterials (CdSe/CdS, CdSe/CdSCdxZn1–xS, and CdSe/CdS/ZnS), extending the great potential of organic-capped NCs for biological applications.

A presente tese trata de α-sulfonil carbânions, trazendo uma contribuição para a compreensão da sua estabilidade conformacional e reatividade frente a reagentes eletrofílicos. As reações investigadas foram as alquilações e sulfenilações de α-sulfonil tioésteres e as descarboxilações alquilativas dos ácidos α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóicos racêmico e opticamente ativo. A apresentação e discussão dos resultados das reações de alquilação e sulfenilação é precedida por uma revisão bibliográfica que apresenta os trabalhos mais relevantes da literatura sobre as reações de α-sulfonil carbânions com diversos eletrófilos, envolvendo reações tais como: halogenação, alquilação, acilação, condensação e sulfenilação. Os estudos das reações de alquilação, por nós efetuados com dois diferentes α-sulfonil tioésteres, empregando o método em fase homogênea, indicaram que, no caso dos haletos de metila, etila e alila, foram obtidas misturas dos produtos mono- e di- alquilados, enquanto que no caso do brometo de benzila houve formação exclusiva de produtos monoalquilados (ver arquivo). Entretanto, a alquilação pelo emprego do método de catálise de transferência de fase (CTF), efetuada com o α-fenilsulfonil tioacetato de metila, conduziu exclusivamente aos produtos monoalquilados correspondentes, independentemente do reagente alquilante empregado (ver arquivo). Estes resultados mostraram a superioridade do método em transferência de fase sobre o em fase homogênea. Os estudos das reações de sulfenilação, efetuados com o α-fenilsulfonil tioacetato de metila e os seus derivados α-alquilsubstituídos, empregando o método CTF, conduziram exclusivamente aos produtos monossulfenilados (ver arquivo). Neste caso, o método em transferência de fase também se mostrou superior ao em fase homogênea, sendo os produtos monossulfenilados obtidos em maior rendimento. É sugerido um mecanismo para as reações de alquilação e sulfenilação de α-sulfonil tioésteres em CTF, empregando sistema sólido / líquido, o qual explica a ausência, nestas condições reacionais, dos produtos dialquilado e dissulfenilado. A apresentação e discussão dos resultados das reações de descarboxilação alquilativas dos ácidos α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóicos racêmico e opticamente ativo é precedida por uma introdução que apresenta os estudos mais relevantes da literatura sobre as reações de descarboxilação de ácidos α-sulfonil carboxílicos na presença de eletrófilos, tais como hidrogênio, halogênio, carbono e enxofre. São de especial interesse os estudos envolvendo o curso estereoquímico da reação de descarboxilação protonativa de ácidos α-sulfonil carboxílicos opticamente ativos em meio alcalino, demonstrando a grande estabilidade do α-sulfonil carbânion, que retém a sua configuração original, sendo esta mantida mesmo após a protonação. Estas investigações se relacionam com os nossos estudos de descarboxilação alquilativa dos ácidos α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóicos racêmico e opticamente ativo, efetuados em continuação aos estudos anteriores de descarboxilações alquilativas dos ácidos α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenil carboxílicos realizados no nosso laboratório. Os nossos resultados mostraram que é possível obter a sulfona tetrassubstituída pela reação do ácido α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóico com iodeto de etila na presença de NaH / DMSO, desde que se expulse o CO2 formado na reação (ver arquivo). É apresentada a síntese do ácido α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóico opticamente ativo, o qual foi obtido por vários passos reacionais, através da resolução do ácido α-fenilsulfenil-α-fenilpropanóico e a sua posterior oxidação. A configuração de ambos os compostos foi determinada pela análise de raios X, mostrando ser o isômero S. As sínteses destes ácidos foram efetuadas por dois métodos distintos, constituídos de 3 e 5 passos reacionais. Entretanto, não foi possível obter a sulfona tetrassubstituída opticamente ativa pela reação do ácido α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóico opticamente ativo com iodeto de etila nas mesmas condições empregadas no caso do composto racêmico correspondente. Foi obtido um esclarecimento do processo da descarboxilação de ácidos α-sulfonil carboxílicos a partir de cálculos semi-empíricos que mostraram a existência de duas etapas intermediárias na descarboxilação dos respectivos carboxilatos, ou seja, uma em que o CO2 se liga ao carbânion (I) e outra, de mais baixa energia, em que ele se liga ao oxigênio sulfonílico (II) (ver arquivo). Foram fornecidas provas, através de experiências comparativas de alquilação e protonação, que para que o α-sulfonil carbânion mantenha a sua configuração, é necessário que o eletrófilo reaja com o carbânion antes da expulsão total de CO2, isto é, na fase em que ele se encontra ligado ao oxigênio sulfonílico (II). Este é o caso da descarboxilação protonativa, que mostrou ocorrer com retenção da configuração na experiência por nós realizada. A racemização que ocorre no caso da descarboxilação alquilativa foi atribuída à pequena janela de reação, que impede a aproximação do reagente alquilante. Foi por nós sugerido que a ligação do CO2 ao oxigênio sulfonílico seria responsável pela barreira rotacional que mantém a assimetria do α-sulfonil carbânion, tornando-o conformacionalmente estável. No decorrer do presente estudo foram sintetizados 11 compostos ainda não descritos na literatura, entre eles: três α-bromo tioésteres, cinco α-sulfonil tioésteres, quatro α-sulfonil tioésteres α-sulfenilados e uma sulfona tetrassubstituída. / This thesis gives a contribution to the chemistry of α-sulfonyl carbanions, such as the comprehension of its conformational stability and reactivity towards electrophilic reagents. The investigated reactions were alkylation and sulfenylation of α-sulfonyl thioesters and the decarboxylative alkylation of racemic and optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acids. The presentation of the results and the discussion of the alkylation and sulfenylation reactions are preceded by a bibliographic revision describing the most important reports in the literature concerning the reactions of α-sulfonyl carbanions with different electrophiles, such as: protonation, halogenation, alkylation, acylation, condensation and sulfenylation. Our studies of the alkylation reaction, carried out with two different α-sulfonyl thioesters, employing homogeneous media, indicated that in the case of methyl, ethyl and allyl halides, mixtures of mono- and dialkylated products were obtained. However, in the case of benzyl bromide, the corresponding monoalkylated compound was obtained as the only reaction product (see file). On the other hand, the alkylation of methyl α-phenylsulfonyl thioacetate by PTC method afforded, exclusively, the corresponding monoalkylated products. These results show the superiority of the PTC method over the homogeneous one (see file). The sulfenylation reactions carried out with methyl α-phenylsulfonyl thioacetate and their α-alkylsubstituted derivatives employing PTC conditions, afforded only monosulfenylated α-sulfonyl thioesters as the only reaction products. Also in this case, the PTC method showed to be superior to give the monosulfenylated products in higher yields (see file). A mechanism for the alkylation and sulfenylation reactions in solid / liquid PTC system, which explains the absence of the dialkylated and disulfenylated products is suggested. The presentation and discussion of the results for the alkylative decarboxylation reactions of racemic and optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acids is preceded by a bibliographic introduction reporting the most important works in the literature concerning the decarboxylation of α-sulfonyl carboxylic acids in the presence of electrophiles such as hydrogen, halogens and sulfur. Specially important are the studies on the stereochemical course of the base-catalyzed protonative decarboxylation of optically active α-sulfonyl carboxylic acids, showing the high stability of the a-sulfonyl cabanion, which retains its original configuration even after protonation. There is a link between these investigations and our studies of the alkylative decarboxylation of racemic and optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acids, which are undertook in continuation to our investigations on the alkylative decarboxylation of α-phenylsulfonyl-α- phenyl carboxylic acids. Our results showed that it is possible to obtain the tetrasubstituted sulfone from the reaction of α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acid with ethyl iodide, in the presence of NaH / DMSO as base, provided that the CO2, which is formed during the reaction, is expelled (see file). The synthesis of the optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acid containing several reaction steps is presented, through the resolution of the α-phenylsulfenyl-α-phenylpropanoic acid, followed by its oxidation. The configurations of both acids were determined through X-rays analyses, and showed to be S. However, it was not possible to obtain the optically active tetrasubstituted sulfone from the reaction of optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acid with ethyl iodide in the experimental conditions employed for the corresponding racemic acid. The insight for the decarboxylation process of the α-sulfonyl carboxylic acids was obtained from semi-empiric calculations that showed the existence of two intermediate steps in the decarboxylation of the corresponding carboxylates, one of which with CO2 bonded to the carbanion and another one, of lower energy, in which the CO2 is linked to the sulfonyl oxygen (see file). Proofs were provided, through the comparative experiments of alkylation and protonation for the optically active α-sulfonyl acid, that for retention of configuration of the α-sulfonyl carbanion it is necessary that the reaction of the carbanion with the electrophile takes place before the total expulsion of CO2, i.e., when it is linked to SO2. It was suggested that the CO2-OSO linkage could be responsible for the rotational barrier, which maintains the symmetry of the a-sulfonyl carbanion, which becomes conformationaly stable. Finally, eleven new compounds were prepared in the course of the present study such as: three α-bromo thioesters, five α-sulfonyl thioesters, four α-sulfenylated α-sulfonyl thioesters and one α-tetrasubstituted sulfone.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi a investigação da viabilidade de uma nova rota sintética para a obtenção do fármaco Baclofen em sua forma enantiopura. A etapa principal da rota sintética por nós proposta consiste na síntese de uma aziridina de estereoquímica cis, utilizando uma nova metodologia, desenvolvida em nosso laboratório pelo emprego da catálise de transferência de fase (CTF). Para a obtenção da aziridina apropriada, tornou-se necessário preparar de maneira estereosseletiva, a (2S, 3R)-(4-clorofenil)-serina. Este precursor seria adequado, uma vez que, em estudos preliminares, verificamos que o fechamento do aziridínico ocorre sem racemização dos estereocentros presentes na molécula. Inicialmente, tentamos obter o β-hidróxi-α-aminoácido desejado pela reação de adição aldólica de uma imina do éster terc-butílico da glicina com o 4-clorobenzaldeído, em condições de catálise de transferência de fase assimétrica. Tais reações não apresentaram estereosseletividade. Porém, apesar de gerarem dois produtos diastereoméricos racêmicos, estes são de interesse, uma vez que um deles é uma oxazolidina cis inédita. Para a obtenção da (2S, 3R)-(4-clorofenil)-serina, optamos pelo emprego de uma metodologia alternativa, que consistiu em efetuar a reação aldólica do p-clorobenzaldeído com a glicina, sob a forma de um complexo de quiral de níquel (II). Uma vez obtido o ß-hidróxi-α-aminoácido, efetuamos a reação de aziridinização, seguida da abertura do anel heterocíclico com malonato de dietila, o que resultou na obtenção da (2S,3R) 4-carboetóxi-3-(4-clorofenil)-1-tosil-piroglutamato de metila, que consiste em uma mistura de diastereoisômeros, mas de estereoquímica definida nos carbonos 2 e 3. A hidrólise dos grupos ésteres deste composto, seguida de mono-descarboxilação do diácido resultante, conduziu ao ácido 3-(4-clorofenil)-1-tosil-piroglutâmico opticamente ativo, em 17% a partir da aziridina. As etapas finais de transformação de transformação deste intermediário no fármaco Baclofen não foram efetuadas. No entanto, consistem em reações bem descritas na literatura e freqüentemente utilizadas em outras rotas visando a síntese do mesmo fármaco. / In this work, the feasibility of a new synthetic route to Baclofen was investigated. The starting material, a cis-aziridine, was prepared by ring closure of (2S,3R)-(4-clorophenyl)- serine, under phase transfer conditions (PTC). As for the preparation of the required ß- hydroxy-α-aminoacid, two alternative synthetic strategies were investigated. (i) the PTC aldol addition of 4-chlorobenzaldehyde to the benzophenone imine of the tert-butyl ester of glycine, using chiral catalysts, or (ii) the aldol addition of the same aldehyde to a chiral nickel (II) complex of glycine. The first mentioned reaction failed to yield enantiomerically pure aldol adducts, although a cis oxazolidina, not yet described in the literature, could be isolated and fully characterized. Using a newly prepared nickel complex, bearing (R)-proline as ligand, (2S,3R)-(4-chlorophenyl)-serine could be prepared and subsequentely transformed into the corresponding aziridina. Ring opening of heterocycle, using diethylmalonate as nucleophile, afforded N-tosyl-4-carbethoxy-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-methyl pyroglutamate as a mixture of diastereomers but with defined stereochemistry at C-2 and C-3. Hydrolysis and mono- decarboxalation led to the corresponding N-tosyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-pyroglutamic acid, exhibiting optical activity. This valuable intermediate could be prepared in 17% from the starting aziridina and can be further transformed into the γ-aminoacid Baclofen using fully investigated and well described procedures.

Ultra narrow-band filters and the use of two loops in a cascade configuration dominate current clock conditioners based on phase-locked-loop (PLL) schemes. Since a PLL exhibits a low-pass transfer function with respect to the reference clock, the noise performance at very close-to-carrier offset frequencies is still determined by the input signal. Although better cleaning can be achieved with extremely narrow loops, an ultra low cut-off frequency could not be selected since the stability of the configuration deteriorates as the filter bandwidth is reduced. This fact suggests that a full-spectrum clock conditioning is not possible using traditional PLL architectures, and an alternative scheme is necessary to attenuate the very-close-to-carrier phase noise (PN). In addition, ultra-narrow loop filters can compromise on-chip integration because of the large size capacitors needed when chosen as passive. Input signal attenuation with relaxed bandwidth requirements becomes the main aspect that a comprehensive clock cleaner must address to effectively regenerate a reference signal. This dissertation describes the Band-Reject Nested-PLL (BRN-PLL) scheme, a modified PLL-based architecture that provides an effective signal cleaning procedure by introducing a notch in the input transfer function through inner and outer loops and a high-pass filter (HPF). This modified response attenuates the reference-signal PN and reduces the size of the loop-filter capacitors substantially. Ultra narrow loops are no longer required because the notch size is related to the system bandwidth. The associated transfer function for the constitutive blocks (phase detectors and local oscillators) show that the output close-to-carrier and far-from-carrier PN sections are mainly dominated by the noise from the inner-PLL phase detector (PD) and local oscillator (LO) located in the outer loop, respectively. The inner-PLL PD transfer function maintains a low-pass characteristic with a passband gain inversely proportional to the PD gain becoming the main contribution around the carrier signal. On the other hand, the PN around the transition frequency is determined mainly by the reference and the inner-PLL LO. Their noise contributions to the output will depend on the associated passband local maxima, which is located at the BRN-PLL transition frequency. Hence, in this region, the inner-PLL LO is selected so that its effect can be held below that of the outer-PLL PD. The BRN-PLL can use a high-Q MEMS-based VCO to further improve the transition region of the output PN profile and an LC-VCO as outer-PLL LO to reduce the noise floor of the output signal. In particular, two tuning mechanisms are explored for the MEMS-VCO: series tuning using varactors and phase shifting of a resonator operating in nonlinear regime. Both schemes are implemented to generate a tunable oscillator with no PN-performance degradation.

The extensive growth of nanotechnology has necessitated the development of economical and robust methods for large scale production of nanomaterials. It requires detailed quantitative understanding of lab-scale processes to enable effective scale-up and development of new contacting strategies for their controlled synthesis. In this thesis, attempts are made in both the directions using experimental and modelling approaches for synthesis of different nanoparticles. The two-phase Brust--Schiffrin protocol for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles was investigated first. The mechanism of transfer of reactants from aqueous to organic phase using phase transfer catalyst (PTC) was investigated using the measurement of interfacial tension, viscosity, SLS, SAXS, 1H NMR, DOSY-NMR, and Karl-Fischer titration. The study shows that the reactants are transferred to organic phase through the formation of hydrated complexes between reactants and PTC rather than through the solubilization of reactants in water core of inverse micelles of PTC, proposed recently in the literature. The particle synthesis reactions thus occur in the bulk organic phase. The extensive body of seemingly disparate experimental findings on Brust--Schiffrin protocol were put together next. The emerging picture ruled out both thermodynamic considerations and kinetics based arguments as exemplified by the classical LaMer's mechanism with sequential nucleation growth capping for size control in Brust--Schiffrin protocol. A new model for particle synthesis was developed. The model brought out continued nucleation--growth--capping based size control, an hitherto unknown mechanistic route for the synthesis of monodisperse particles, as the main mechanism. The model not only captured the reported features of the synthesis but also helped to improve the uniformity of the synthesized particles, validated experimentally. The two-step mechanism of Finke--Watzky---first order nucleation from precursor and autocatalytic growth of particles---proposed as an alternative to LaMer model to explain an induction period followed by a sigmoidal decrease in precursor concentration for the synthesis of iridium nanoparticles was investigated next. The mechanism is tested using an equivalent population balance model for its ability to explain the experimentally observed near constant breadth of the evolving size distribution as well. The predictions show that while it captures precursor conversion well, it fails to explain particle synthesis on account of its inability to suppress nucleation. A minimal four-step mechanism with additional steps for nucleation from reduced iridium atoms and their scavenging using particle surface is proposed. The new mechanism when combined with the first or second order nucleation, or classical nucleation with no scavenging of reduced atoms also fails to suppress nucleation. A burst like onset of nuclei formation with homogeneous nucleation and the scavenging of reduced atoms by particles are simultaneously required to explain all the reported features of the synthesis of iridium nanoparticles. A new reactor is proposed for continuous production of CaCO3 nanoparticles in gas-liquid reaction route. The key feature of the new reactor is the control of flow pattern to ensure efficient mixing of reactants. A liquidliquid reaction route for production of CaCO3 nanoparticles is also optimized to produce nanoparticles at high loading. Optimum supersaturation combined with efficient breakup of initial gel-like structure by mechanical agitation and charge control played a crucial role in producing nano sized CaCO3 particles.

A presente tese trata de α-sulfonil carbânions, trazendo uma contribuição para a compreensão da sua estabilidade conformacional e reatividade frente a reagentes eletrofílicos. As reações investigadas foram as alquilações e sulfenilações de α-sulfonil tioésteres e as descarboxilações alquilativas dos ácidos α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóicos racêmico e opticamente ativo. A apresentação e discussão dos resultados das reações de alquilação e sulfenilação é precedida por uma revisão bibliográfica que apresenta os trabalhos mais relevantes da literatura sobre as reações de α-sulfonil carbânions com diversos eletrófilos, envolvendo reações tais como: halogenação, alquilação, acilação, condensação e sulfenilação. Os estudos das reações de alquilação, por nós efetuados com dois diferentes α-sulfonil tioésteres, empregando o método em fase homogênea, indicaram que, no caso dos haletos de metila, etila e alila, foram obtidas misturas dos produtos mono- e di- alquilados, enquanto que no caso do brometo de benzila houve formação exclusiva de produtos monoalquilados (ver arquivo). Entretanto, a alquilação pelo emprego do método de catálise de transferência de fase (CTF), efetuada com o α-fenilsulfonil tioacetato de metila, conduziu exclusivamente aos produtos monoalquilados correspondentes, independentemente do reagente alquilante empregado (ver arquivo). Estes resultados mostraram a superioridade do método em transferência de fase sobre o em fase homogênea. Os estudos das reações de sulfenilação, efetuados com o α-fenilsulfonil tioacetato de metila e os seus derivados α-alquilsubstituídos, empregando o método CTF, conduziram exclusivamente aos produtos monossulfenilados (ver arquivo). Neste caso, o método em transferência de fase também se mostrou superior ao em fase homogênea, sendo os produtos monossulfenilados obtidos em maior rendimento. É sugerido um mecanismo para as reações de alquilação e sulfenilação de α-sulfonil tioésteres em CTF, empregando sistema sólido / líquido, o qual explica a ausência, nestas condições reacionais, dos produtos dialquilado e dissulfenilado. A apresentação e discussão dos resultados das reações de descarboxilação alquilativas dos ácidos α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóicos racêmico e opticamente ativo é precedida por uma introdução que apresenta os estudos mais relevantes da literatura sobre as reações de descarboxilação de ácidos α-sulfonil carboxílicos na presença de eletrófilos, tais como hidrogênio, halogênio, carbono e enxofre. São de especial interesse os estudos envolvendo o curso estereoquímico da reação de descarboxilação protonativa de ácidos α-sulfonil carboxílicos opticamente ativos em meio alcalino, demonstrando a grande estabilidade do α-sulfonil carbânion, que retém a sua configuração original, sendo esta mantida mesmo após a protonação. Estas investigações se relacionam com os nossos estudos de descarboxilação alquilativa dos ácidos α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóicos racêmico e opticamente ativo, efetuados em continuação aos estudos anteriores de descarboxilações alquilativas dos ácidos α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenil carboxílicos realizados no nosso laboratório. Os nossos resultados mostraram que é possível obter a sulfona tetrassubstituída pela reação do ácido α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóico com iodeto de etila na presença de NaH / DMSO, desde que se expulse o CO2 formado na reação (ver arquivo). É apresentada a síntese do ácido α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóico opticamente ativo, o qual foi obtido por vários passos reacionais, através da resolução do ácido α-fenilsulfenil-α-fenilpropanóico e a sua posterior oxidação. A configuração de ambos os compostos foi determinada pela análise de raios X, mostrando ser o isômero S. As sínteses destes ácidos foram efetuadas por dois métodos distintos, constituídos de 3 e 5 passos reacionais. Entretanto, não foi possível obter a sulfona tetrassubstituída opticamente ativa pela reação do ácido α-fenilsulfonil-α-fenilpropanóico opticamente ativo com iodeto de etila nas mesmas condições empregadas no caso do composto racêmico correspondente. Foi obtido um esclarecimento do processo da descarboxilação de ácidos α-sulfonil carboxílicos a partir de cálculos semi-empíricos que mostraram a existência de duas etapas intermediárias na descarboxilação dos respectivos carboxilatos, ou seja, uma em que o CO2 se liga ao carbânion (I) e outra, de mais baixa energia, em que ele se liga ao oxigênio sulfonílico (II) (ver arquivo). Foram fornecidas provas, através de experiências comparativas de alquilação e protonação, que para que o α-sulfonil carbânion mantenha a sua configuração, é necessário que o eletrófilo reaja com o carbânion antes da expulsão total de CO2, isto é, na fase em que ele se encontra ligado ao oxigênio sulfonílico (II). Este é o caso da descarboxilação protonativa, que mostrou ocorrer com retenção da configuração na experiência por nós realizada. A racemização que ocorre no caso da descarboxilação alquilativa foi atribuída à pequena janela de reação, que impede a aproximação do reagente alquilante. Foi por nós sugerido que a ligação do CO2 ao oxigênio sulfonílico seria responsável pela barreira rotacional que mantém a assimetria do α-sulfonil carbânion, tornando-o conformacionalmente estável. No decorrer do presente estudo foram sintetizados 11 compostos ainda não descritos na literatura, entre eles: três α-bromo tioésteres, cinco α-sulfonil tioésteres, quatro α-sulfonil tioésteres α-sulfenilados e uma sulfona tetrassubstituída. / This thesis gives a contribution to the chemistry of α-sulfonyl carbanions, such as the comprehension of its conformational stability and reactivity towards electrophilic reagents. The investigated reactions were alkylation and sulfenylation of α-sulfonyl thioesters and the decarboxylative alkylation of racemic and optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acids. The presentation of the results and the discussion of the alkylation and sulfenylation reactions are preceded by a bibliographic revision describing the most important reports in the literature concerning the reactions of α-sulfonyl carbanions with different electrophiles, such as: protonation, halogenation, alkylation, acylation, condensation and sulfenylation. Our studies of the alkylation reaction, carried out with two different α-sulfonyl thioesters, employing homogeneous media, indicated that in the case of methyl, ethyl and allyl halides, mixtures of mono- and dialkylated products were obtained. However, in the case of benzyl bromide, the corresponding monoalkylated compound was obtained as the only reaction product (see file). On the other hand, the alkylation of methyl α-phenylsulfonyl thioacetate by PTC method afforded, exclusively, the corresponding monoalkylated products. These results show the superiority of the PTC method over the homogeneous one (see file). The sulfenylation reactions carried out with methyl α-phenylsulfonyl thioacetate and their α-alkylsubstituted derivatives employing PTC conditions, afforded only monosulfenylated α-sulfonyl thioesters as the only reaction products. Also in this case, the PTC method showed to be superior to give the monosulfenylated products in higher yields (see file). A mechanism for the alkylation and sulfenylation reactions in solid / liquid PTC system, which explains the absence of the dialkylated and disulfenylated products is suggested. The presentation and discussion of the results for the alkylative decarboxylation reactions of racemic and optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acids is preceded by a bibliographic introduction reporting the most important works in the literature concerning the decarboxylation of α-sulfonyl carboxylic acids in the presence of electrophiles such as hydrogen, halogens and sulfur. Specially important are the studies on the stereochemical course of the base-catalyzed protonative decarboxylation of optically active α-sulfonyl carboxylic acids, showing the high stability of the a-sulfonyl cabanion, which retains its original configuration even after protonation. There is a link between these investigations and our studies of the alkylative decarboxylation of racemic and optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acids, which are undertook in continuation to our investigations on the alkylative decarboxylation of α-phenylsulfonyl-α- phenyl carboxylic acids. Our results showed that it is possible to obtain the tetrasubstituted sulfone from the reaction of α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acid with ethyl iodide, in the presence of NaH / DMSO as base, provided that the CO2, which is formed during the reaction, is expelled (see file). The synthesis of the optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acid containing several reaction steps is presented, through the resolution of the α-phenylsulfenyl-α-phenylpropanoic acid, followed by its oxidation. The configurations of both acids were determined through X-rays analyses, and showed to be S. However, it was not possible to obtain the optically active tetrasubstituted sulfone from the reaction of optically active α-phenylsulfonyl-α-phenylpropanoic acid with ethyl iodide in the experimental conditions employed for the corresponding racemic acid. The insight for the decarboxylation process of the α-sulfonyl carboxylic acids was obtained from semi-empiric calculations that showed the existence of two intermediate steps in the decarboxylation of the corresponding carboxylates, one of which with CO2 bonded to the carbanion and another one, of lower energy, in which the CO2 is linked to the sulfonyl oxygen (see file). Proofs were provided, through the comparative experiments of alkylation and protonation for the optically active α-sulfonyl acid, that for retention of configuration of the α-sulfonyl carbanion it is necessary that the reaction of the carbanion with the electrophile takes place before the total expulsion of CO2, i.e., when it is linked to SO2. It was suggested that the CO2-OSO linkage could be responsible for the rotational barrier, which maintains the symmetry of the a-sulfonyl carbanion, which becomes conformationaly stable. Finally, eleven new compounds were prepared in the course of the present study such as: three α-bromo thioesters, five α-sulfonyl thioesters, four α-sulfenylated α-sulfonyl thioesters and one α-tetrasubstituted sulfone.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi a investigação da viabilidade de uma nova rota sintética para a obtenção do fármaco Baclofen em sua forma enantiopura. A etapa principal da rota sintética por nós proposta consiste na síntese de uma aziridina de estereoquímica cis, utilizando uma nova metodologia, desenvolvida em nosso laboratório pelo emprego da catálise de transferência de fase (CTF). Para a obtenção da aziridina apropriada, tornou-se necessário preparar de maneira estereosseletiva, a (2S, 3R)-(4-clorofenil)-serina. Este precursor seria adequado, uma vez que, em estudos preliminares, verificamos que o fechamento do aziridínico ocorre sem racemização dos estereocentros presentes na molécula. Inicialmente, tentamos obter o β-hidróxi-α-aminoácido desejado pela reação de adição aldólica de uma imina do éster terc-butílico da glicina com o 4-clorobenzaldeído, em condições de catálise de transferência de fase assimétrica. Tais reações não apresentaram estereosseletividade. Porém, apesar de gerarem dois produtos diastereoméricos racêmicos, estes são de interesse, uma vez que um deles é uma oxazolidina cis inédita. Para a obtenção da (2S, 3R)-(4-clorofenil)-serina, optamos pelo emprego de uma metodologia alternativa, que consistiu em efetuar a reação aldólica do p-clorobenzaldeído com a glicina, sob a forma de um complexo de quiral de níquel (II). Uma vez obtido o ß-hidróxi-α-aminoácido, efetuamos a reação de aziridinização, seguida da abertura do anel heterocíclico com malonato de dietila, o que resultou na obtenção da (2S,3R) 4-carboetóxi-3-(4-clorofenil)-1-tosil-piroglutamato de metila, que consiste em uma mistura de diastereoisômeros, mas de estereoquímica definida nos carbonos 2 e 3. A hidrólise dos grupos ésteres deste composto, seguida de mono-descarboxilação do diácido resultante, conduziu ao ácido 3-(4-clorofenil)-1-tosil-piroglutâmico opticamente ativo, em 17% a partir da aziridina. As etapas finais de transformação de transformação deste intermediário no fármaco Baclofen não foram efetuadas. No entanto, consistem em reações bem descritas na literatura e freqüentemente utilizadas em outras rotas visando a síntese do mesmo fármaco. / In this work, the feasibility of a new synthetic route to Baclofen was investigated. The starting material, a cis-aziridine, was prepared by ring closure of (2S,3R)-(4-clorophenyl)- serine, under phase transfer conditions (PTC). As for the preparation of the required ß- hydroxy-α-aminoacid, two alternative synthetic strategies were investigated. (i) the PTC aldol addition of 4-chlorobenzaldehyde to the benzophenone imine of the tert-butyl ester of glycine, using chiral catalysts, or (ii) the aldol addition of the same aldehyde to a chiral nickel (II) complex of glycine. The first mentioned reaction failed to yield enantiomerically pure aldol adducts, although a cis oxazolidina, not yet described in the literature, could be isolated and fully characterized. Using a newly prepared nickel complex, bearing (R)-proline as ligand, (2S,3R)-(4-chlorophenyl)-serine could be prepared and subsequentely transformed into the corresponding aziridina. Ring opening of heterocycle, using diethylmalonate as nucleophile, afforded N-tosyl-4-carbethoxy-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-methyl pyroglutamate as a mixture of diastereomers but with defined stereochemistry at C-2 and C-3. Hydrolysis and mono- decarboxalation led to the corresponding N-tosyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-pyroglutamic acid, exhibiting optical activity. This valuable intermediate could be prepared in 17% from the starting aziridina and can be further transformed into the γ-aminoacid Baclofen using fully investigated and well described procedures.

This thesis entitled “Organic Transformations in Water: Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies towards Green Methodologies” is in two parts. Part-I describes various synthetic studies aimed at developing improved methodologies; Part-II describes certain mechanistic studies directed towards an improved understanding of phase transfer catalysis and the hydrophobic effect. Water is uniquely advantageous as a solvent. It is environmentally benign, non-flammable, liquid over a wide temperature range and possesses a high heat capacity that makes it inherently safe. Water also catalyses chemical transformations between insoluble organic reactants. Water thus serves as a reaction medium, a product partitioner and a reaction catalyst.1 Part-I:- Reactions in Water under both Microwave and Ambient Conditions Part-I is further divided into three chapters. Chapter II deals with reactions of 2-nitroalcohols (2NAs), and is divided into three sections. Section A describes the synthesis of nitroalkanes via the microwave-assisted, water-mediated chemoselective reduction of 2NAs using tributyltin hydride (Bu Scheme 1 ). The 2NAs, synthesized from nitromethane and aldehydes (aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic or m- & p-substituted aromatic aldehydes), were converted into corresponding nitroalkanes in excellent yields. The 2NAs derived either from substituted nitromethane [nitroethane, (nitromethyl)benzene, etc.] or bulky aldehydes (o-substituted aromatic aldehydes), however, failed to furnish nitroalkanes under these conditions. Also a major solvent effect was observed: the extent of conversion was greater in water than in water-polar 3SnH) as reducing agent. The chemoselective reduction of 2NAs to nitroalkanes was observed accidentally while trying to remove the nitro group of 2NAs in a Bu3SnH-AIBN-water system under microwave conditions. When equimolar quantities of 2NA and Bu3SnH were added to water, microwave irradiation led to nitroalkanes (protic solvent mixtures and the reaction did not occur either in aprotic polar or non-polar solvents. Scheme 1. Microwave assisted chemoselective reduction of 2NAs to nitroalkanes in Bu3SnH-water In Section B, the microwave assisted synthesis of nitroalkanes from nitroalkenes has been described. Equimolar quantities of nitroalkene and Bu Scheme 2 ). The nitroalkenes substituted even by bulky groups at C-1 & C-2 were converted into corresponding nitroalkanes. Hence the drawback of the method described in Section A was overcome by employing nitroalkenes as starting materials. 3SnH in water under microwave irradiation, led to excellent yields of corresponding nitroalkanes (Scheme 2). The nitroalkenes substituted even by bulky groups at C-1 & C-2 were converted into corresponding nitroalkanes. Hence the drawback of the method described in Section A was overcome by employing nitroalkenes as starting materials. Scheme 2. Microwave assisted reduction of nitroalkenes to nitroalkanes in Bu3SnH-water In Section C, the synthesis of nitroalkenes via dehydration of 2NAs in a K Scheme 3 ). Thus, the dehydration of 2NAs has been accomplished under relatively mild conditions. (It was observed that the 2NAs bearing bulky groups underwent the retro-Henry reaction rather than dehydration.) 2CO3-water system has been described. This conversion was accomplished at 0-5 °C in 5-30 minutes, the nitroalkenes being isolated in good yields (Scheme 3). Thus, the dehydration of 2NAs has been accomplished under relatively mild conditions. (It was observed that the 2NAs bearing bulky groups underwent the retro-Henry reaction rather than dehydration.) Scheme 3. Dehydration of 2-NAs in aqueous K2CO3 solution Chapter III describes the chemoselective reduction of ketoaldehydes. This was serendipitously discovered during attempted enantioselective reduction of prochiral ketones using amino acid-NaBH Scheme 4 ). The method provides a mild and efficient route for the chemoselective reduction of aldehydes under aqueous basic conditions. 4-Na2CO3 in water. When equimolar quantities of aldehyde and ketone were added to a solution NaBH4 in aqueous Na2CO3 at ambient temperature, the aldehydes were selectively reduced. Good yields of primary alcohols were generally observed with excellent chemoselectivities. Extension of this study to the selective reduction of ketoaldehydes under the above reaction conditions furnished ketoalcohols in > 70% yields with > 80% chemoselectivities (Scheme 4). The method provides a mild and efficient route for the chemoselective reduction of aldehydes under aqueous basic conditions. Scheme 4. Chemoselective reduction of ketoaldehydes with NaBH4-Na2CO3 in water Chapter IV deals with deprotection of various acetals, thioacetals and tetrahydropyranyl (THP) ethers in hexane under ambient conditions, by employing chloral hydrate as reagent. Chloral hydrate is a crystalline solid with pK2 When a a 9.66.stirred suspension of excess chloral hydrate in hexane was treated with the acetal, thioacetal or THP ether, the corresponding aldehyde, ketone and alcohol were obtained in good to excellent yields (stirred suspension of excess chloral hydrate in hexane was treated with the acetal, thioacetal or THP ether, the corresponding aldehyde, ketone and alcohol were obtained in good to excellent yields (stirred suspension of excess chloral hydrate in hexane was treated with the acetal, thioacetal or THP ether, the corresponding aldehyde, ketone and alcohol were obtained in good to excellent yields ( Scheme 5. Chloral hydrate catalyzed hydrolysis of acetals, thioacetals including THP ethers Part-II:- Mechanistic Studies on Phase Transfer Catalysis and The Hydrophobic Effect Part-II is in two chapters. Chapter V describes a study of the mechanism of the phase transfer catalyzed (PTC) nucleophilic reaction of cyanide ion with alkyl halides in decane ( Scheme 7 ). In the extraction mechanism proposed earlier,3 the PTC forms the mixed species, tributylhexadecylphosphonium cyanide (THPB), which is believed to be more soluble in decane than is the starting cyanide. A problem with this explanation is that the positive free energy of transfer of the cyanide ion from the aqueous to the organic phase, which is unlikely to be offset by solvation energy of the hexadecyl and butyl groups. Scheme 6. Cyanide displacement reaction of 1-chloro octane3 The present studies explore the possibility that the reaction occurs via the formation of aggregates resembling reverse micelles ( Figure 1 ). In these, the hydrocarbon residues point outwards, with the ionic species ensconced in a deeply embedded interior along with a certain number of water molecules. Thus, the ionic species are not only shielded from the organic medium, but also stabilized in a relatively polar micro-environment (largely via dipolar interactions and hydrogen bonding). It is assumed that this stabilization energy surpasses the positive free energy of transfer of cyanide ion from aqueous to the organic phase. Figure 1. Typical representation of cyanide displacement reaction in THPB-decane-water micellar pool In fact, NMR studies on the structural dynamics of THPB in solution offered evidence of aggregation. Also, a correlation between the structures of catalyst and reactant was observed in studies with various other PTC’s. Chapter VI deals with the mechanism of the Diels-Alder reaction (DAR) in water. The concept of the hydrophobic effect (HE)4 and preferential hydrogen bonding of water with the polarized transition state5 have been invoked to explain the apparent acceleration of Diels-Alder reactions in water. The present studies explore the possibility that the highly polar water microenvironment stabilizes the transition state. Semi-quantitative rate studies of DAR involving water soluble reactants indicate that the possible role of solvation and hydrogen bonding on the polarized transition state as the key factor in the rate enhancement of water mediated DAR. The DAR in the presence of a catalytic amount of water along with the organic solvent catalyzed the reaction more efficiently, as compared to the reaction in pure organic solvent. It was also observed that there was a prominent effect of traces of water on the rate in solvent-free conditions. .

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