Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Quando o tetrafluoroborato de N-(α-carbometoximetil)-2,4,6-trifenilpiridínio (Ia) foi tratado com hidróxido de potássio em etanol, resultou uma betaína que, ao ser aquecida na presença de benzaldeído ou p-clorobenzaldeído, não produziu a esperada oxazolidina IIa. Em lugar desta 1,2-di-hidropiridina, formou-se um sal cujo cátion correspondia à estrutura de um N-metil-2,4,6-trifenilpiridínio (III). Este composto resultaria da protonação da ilida intermediária, formada pela descarboxilação da betaína. Porém, quando o mesmo tipo de reação foi efetuada com o derivado α-metilado Ib, o espectro de RMN de H do produto bruto indicou a formação da di-hidropiridina (IIb), na forma de 4 estereoisômeros. A oxazolidina IIa, como um isômero largamente majoritário, pôde ser obtida pela reação do tetrafluoroborato de N-metil-2,4,6-trifenilpiridínio (III) com p-clorobenzaldeído, na presença de uma solução diluída de álcali. Esta oxazolidina era bastante instável e não pode ser purificada, sendo submetida na forma bruta à reação de Diels-Alder com a N-metil-maleimida. Esta reação conduziu a dois adutos isoméricos (IV e V). Embora o aduto majoritário (V) fosse estável em solução de deutero-clorofórmio, o aduto minoritário (IV), na presença desse solvente e à temperatura ambiente, isomerizava-se após algumas horas. A estrutura dos três adutos foi determinada por experimentos de RMN de H (NOESY e NOE 1D seletivo). A adição de um pequeno volume de solução diluída de ácido clorídrico aos compostos IV e V, dissolvidos em acetonitrila e à temperatura ambiente, resultou na isomerização catalítica desses adutos. Porém, quando esta reação de protonação foi efetuada sob refluxo de acetonitrila, formaram-se dois produtos (VI e VII), cuja estrutura era compatível com ocorrência de uma reação de retro-aza Diels-Alder. Finalmente, foi estudado o equilíbrio conformacional de dois novos sais de 2,4,6-trifenil- piridínio, e os resultados foram comparados com aqueles obtidos para os sais análogos 2,4,6-trimetil-substituídos. / When the tetrafluoroborate of N-(α-carbomethoxymethyl)-2,4,6-triphenylpridinium (Ia) was submitted to alkaline hydrolysis followed by decarboxylation upon heating, the resulting betaine failed to undergo the aldol addition reaction with aromatic aldehydes leading, in lieu of the expected oxazolidine (IIa),a salt bearing the cation N-methyl-2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium (III), as a result of the easy protonation of the intermediate ylide. However, for the corresponding a-methylated salt (Ib), the formation of four stereoisomeric 1,2- dihydropiridines was confirmed by inspection of the H NMR of the crude product. As an alternative to this method for obtaining IIa, a mixture of III and p-chlorobenzaldehyde was stirred at room temperature for several hours, in the presence of a diluted aqueous alkali. The resulting 1,2-dihidropyridine (IIa) was rather unstable precluding its isolation from the crude product mixture, and was submitted, without further purification, to the Diels-Alder reaction with Nmethylmaleimide, leading to two diastereomeric isoquinuclidines (IV) and (V). Although the major isomer showed to be stable in a deuterochloroform solution, the minor isomer (IV) underwent a spontaneous isomerization, upon standing in such solvent at room temperature. The stereochemical features of these three aducts could be accessed by NOESY and 1D NOE selective H NMR experiments. By treating a solution of adducts IV and V in acetonitrile with a small volume of aqueous HCl, at room temperature, an acid catalyzed isomerization took place. However, when the protonation reaction of the major diastereoisomer (V) was performed in acetonitrile at the reflux temperature, two products (VI and VII) were isolated, highlighting the occurrence of a retro-aza Diels Alder reaction. Finally, the conformation equilibria for two new 2,4,6-triphenyl- pyridinium salts was investigated. Results were correlated with previous ones referring to analogous 2,4,6-trimethyl- salts.

Quando o tetrafluoroborato de N-(α-carbometoximetil)-2,4,6-trifenilpiridínio (Ia) foi tratado com hidróxido de potássio em etanol, resultou uma betaína que, ao ser aquecida na presença de benzaldeído ou p-clorobenzaldeído, não produziu a esperada oxazolidina IIa. Em lugar desta 1,2-di-hidropiridina, formou-se um sal cujo cátion correspondia à estrutura de um N-metil-2,4,6-trifenilpiridínio (III). Este composto resultaria da protonação da ilida intermediária, formada pela descarboxilação da betaína. Porém, quando o mesmo tipo de reação foi efetuada com o derivado α-metilado Ib, o espectro de RMN de H do produto bruto indicou a formação da di-hidropiridina (IIb), na forma de 4 estereoisômeros. A oxazolidina IIa, como um isômero largamente majoritário, pôde ser obtida pela reação do tetrafluoroborato de N-metil-2,4,6-trifenilpiridínio (III) com p-clorobenzaldeído, na presença de uma solução diluída de álcali. Esta oxazolidina era bastante instável e não pode ser purificada, sendo submetida na forma bruta à reação de Diels-Alder com a N-metil-maleimida. Esta reação conduziu a dois adutos isoméricos (IV e V). Embora o aduto majoritário (V) fosse estável em solução de deutero-clorofórmio, o aduto minoritário (IV), na presença desse solvente e à temperatura ambiente, isomerizava-se após algumas horas. A estrutura dos três adutos foi determinada por experimentos de RMN de H (NOESY e NOE 1D seletivo). A adição de um pequeno volume de solução diluída de ácido clorídrico aos compostos IV e V, dissolvidos em acetonitrila e à temperatura ambiente, resultou na isomerização catalítica desses adutos. Porém, quando esta reação de protonação foi efetuada sob refluxo de acetonitrila, formaram-se dois produtos (VI e VII), cuja estrutura era compatível com ocorrência de uma reação de retro-aza Diels-Alder. Finalmente, foi estudado o equilíbrio conformacional de dois novos sais de 2,4,6-trifenil- piridínio, e os resultados foram comparados com aqueles obtidos para os sais análogos 2,4,6-trimetil-substituídos. / When the tetrafluoroborate of N-(α-carbomethoxymethyl)-2,4,6-triphenylpridinium (Ia) was submitted to alkaline hydrolysis followed by decarboxylation upon heating, the resulting betaine failed to undergo the aldol addition reaction with aromatic aldehydes leading, in lieu of the expected oxazolidine (IIa),a salt bearing the cation N-methyl-2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium (III), as a result of the easy protonation of the intermediate ylide. However, for the corresponding a-methylated salt (Ib), the formation of four stereoisomeric 1,2- dihydropiridines was confirmed by inspection of the H NMR of the crude product. As an alternative to this method for obtaining IIa, a mixture of III and p-chlorobenzaldehyde was stirred at room temperature for several hours, in the presence of a diluted aqueous alkali. The resulting 1,2-dihidropyridine (IIa) was rather unstable precluding its isolation from the crude product mixture, and was submitted, without further purification, to the Diels-Alder reaction with Nmethylmaleimide, leading to two diastereomeric isoquinuclidines (IV) and (V). Although the major isomer showed to be stable in a deuterochloroform solution, the minor isomer (IV) underwent a spontaneous isomerization, upon standing in such solvent at room temperature. The stereochemical features of these three aducts could be accessed by NOESY and 1D NOE selective H NMR experiments. By treating a solution of adducts IV and V in acetonitrile with a small volume of aqueous HCl, at room temperature, an acid catalyzed isomerization took place. However, when the protonation reaction of the major diastereoisomer (V) was performed in acetonitrile at the reflux temperature, two products (VI and VII) were isolated, highlighting the occurrence of a retro-aza Diels Alder reaction. Finally, the conformation equilibria for two new 2,4,6-triphenyl- pyridinium salts was investigated. Results were correlated with previous ones referring to analogous 2,4,6-trimethyl- salts.

Structural analyses of DNA oligonucleotides indicate the presence of bound water molecules in the major and minor grooves of DNA. These water molecules participate in DNA charge transfer by their reaction with guanosine radical cation to form 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-guanine (8-oxoG), which when treated with a base leads to DNA strand cleavage. We probed the reaction of guanosine radical cation with water with series of alkyl substituted cytidines and thymidines by incorporating the modified nucleosides into anthraquinone linked DNA duplexes and irradiating them with UV light at 350 nm. The incorporation of these hydrophobic substituents disrupt the DNA spine of hydration, and we have observed that these modifications in the major and minor groove do not effect the trapping or long distance hopping of radical cations in DNA. The second part of the work reported herein examines the role of charged nucleosides in long range charge transfer in duplex DNA. DNA methylation is a naturally occurring process mediated by enzymes responsible for such functions in biological systems. Hypermethylation of DNA can also occur as a result of environmental alkylating agents leading to mutation of the affected cells. Methylation of the ring nitrogen of a purine base can introduce a positive charge in the ring resulting in the cleavage of the glycosidic bond of the nucleoside. To understand the role of a charged nucleoside on charge transfer in DNA, we designed and synthesized cationic nucleoside mimics, which were incorporated into anthraquinone-linked DNA strands and irradiated at 350 nm. The presence of the cationic bases on the duplexes inhibits the migrating hole from hopping along the DNA strand, and induces a prominent local structural distortion of the DNA as a result of the charged nucleobase.

Cette thèse se compose de deux parties. La première traite de la synthèse et des études électrochimiques et de fluorescence de nouveaux dérivés de la 1,2,4,5 tétrazine en tant que sondes moléculaires pour des anions et des composés riches en électrons. La seconde traite de la synthèse et des études électrochimiques préliminaires de sels de ferrocène à base de pyridinium. Dans la partie I, une vue d'ensemble de la chimie des 1,2,4,5 tétrazine (s tétrazines) est présentée. Les stétrazines ont déjà trouvé des applications dans beaucoup de domaines, mais leur capacité à se lier avec des anions ou des composés riches en électrons par interactions anion n ou empilement n'a été démontrée que très récemment. Dans ce contexte, une série de nouvelles sondes moléculaires contenant des noyaux tétrazine servant d'unités liantes et de détection a été conçue, comprenant des pinces tétrazines, des trépieds tétrazines, des cyclophane tétrazines, et des calices tétrazines. Parmi eux, un trépied tétrazine (86), deux cyclophane tétrazines (90, 93) et deux calices tétrazines (94, 95) ont été synthétisés avec succès en se basant sur des réactions de type SNAr avec la 3,6 dichloros tétrazine (23). Les études photophysiques prouvent que la fluorescence de 86, 90, 94 et 95 peut être efficacement éteinte par les composés riches en électrons tels que la triphénylamine (TPA), la tris (4 bromophényl) amine, le pyrrole, le tétrathiafulvalène (TTF) et le 1,3,5 triméthoxybenzène. Les études électrochimiques indiquent également la présence d'interactions entre les sondes de tétrazine et ces composés électrodonneurs. Les mécanismes d'extinction de fluorescence sont étudiés dans certains cas, et des calculs d'orbitales moléculaires sont présentés pour expliquer le rapport entre les structures et les propriétés moléculaires de fluorescence. Dans la partie II, la synthèse d'un sel de pyridinium à deux branches contenant des ferrocènes (45j) et de deux analogues à trois branches (46h, 46j) obtenus par condensations du 1,2,6 triméthylpyridinium ou 1,2,4,6tétraméthylpyridinium avec des aldéhydes aromatiques est présentée. Une nouvelle voie de synthèse est également développée pour les deux intermédiaires importantes, le trans 5 (2 ferrocényl vinyl) 2 carbaldéhydethiophène (47), et l'aldéhyde du ferrocényléthényl bithiophényle (48). Les études électrochimiques préliminaires prouvent que les sousunités bithiophène influencent considérablement le comportement redox des molécules.

A series of pyridinium cationic lipids was designed, synthesized and characterized. These lipids varied in the lipophilic part, bearing C9 to C20 saturated, unsaturated, straight and branched hydrocarbon chains. The lipid shape parameter was calculated from the molecular structure of these lipids based on the partial molar volumes of the atoms, and standard bond lengths and bond angles, using fragment additive methods. The shape parameter controls the lamellar/hexagonal phase balance in lipoplexes of the lipid with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The lipid phase behaviour of the lipoplexes was derived from small-angle X-ray scattering experiments and was successfully correlated with the calculated lipid shape parameter. The synthesized pyridinium lipids were co-formulated (1:1) with 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine (EPC) as the co-cationic lipid in 1:1 ratio, and the mixed cationic lipids were co-formulated (3:2) with the neutral lipids 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) or cholesterol. The effect of variation in cationic lipid structure and lipoplex formulation on the transfection of nucleic acid (β-galactosidase and green fluorescent protein (GFP)) into CHO-K1 cells and the cytotoxicity of these formulations was assessed. Initial studies on the synthesized lipids bearing saturated and terminally unsaturated C16 chains showed that a Transfection Index (TIPSV) which encompasses the variation in the lipid shape parameter, the phase packing in a hexagonal lipoplex and the partition of these lipids into the lipoplex successfully correlated with transfection efficiency. To further investigate the effect of the variation of the partition of these lipids to the lipoplex, transfection studies were performed on a series of pyridinium lipids with straight saturated and unsaturated chains of varied lengths, with similar shape parameters but varied partition coefficients (clogP). The correlation of these experimental transfection data with the initial TIPSV was unsuccessful, but the data suggested that chain length as it relates to chain mixing and chain melting behaviours of pure lipids played a role in transfection. A refined transfection index (TIPSVM) was proposed which contained terms for the lipid shape parameter, the phase packing into a hexagonal lipoplex, the partition of these lipids into the lipoplex and a chain melting term. TIPSVM gave an acceptable correlation with the experimental transfection efficiency for the range of compounds. Additional experimental transfection data were obtained for compounds with widely variable lipid shape parameters, either as pure compounds, blends of two pure compounds, or statistically produced mixtures of mixed-chain compounds. Although very short-chain compounds (C9) and very lipophilic compounds (C20) performed poorly, the results from the blends allow the assessment of the role of the shape parameter in the TI. Since the shape parameter and the volume filling term are both calculated with the same molecular parameter, the experimental work demonstrated that only one of these terms is required. Thus a three parameter transfection index (TIPVM) was proposed and found to correlate with the entire set of comparable data. A Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) study was done on the cytotoxicity of the transfection formulations utilized. The toxicity of the synthesized pyridinium lipids was shown to correlate with the shape parameter, the lipid mixture partition co-efficient (clogP) and the charge ratio of the lipoplex formulation. Taken together, the developed transfection index TIPVM and the cytotoxicity correlation uncovered can be used in the design of low-toxicity, high activity pyridinium lipids for transfection of DNA. / Graduate / pariapz@uvic.ca

This work deals with the synthesis and photophysical study of fluorescent molecules, aiming to construct new chemical sensors for the selective detection of environmentally or biologically important metal ions. A series of fluoroionophores consisting of triazole moiety and different fluorophores was utilized to investigate the functions of triazole group in chemosensors. Our comprehensively photophysical and complexing studies of these ligands demonstrated that triazole groups could contribute as part of conjugated fluorophores, as metal binding sites or linkers. Several selective chemosensors were successively developed for the detection of Cu2+ or Hg2+. By incorporating dansyl fluorophore into calix[4]bisazacrown, a new potassium chemosensor was constructed. A sulfonate fluorescent calix[4]bisazacrown was created for the selective and ratiometric detection of Al3+ in lutidine buffer solution at pH 6.0 with a satisfying sensitivity. Finally, we aim to realize modulation of cation binding through the photoinduced charge redistribution in the excited state. Two binding motifs based on fullerene and betaine pyridinium were designed for this purpose. Preliminary results demonstrated that PET in fullerene might be not suitable but pydinium betaine hold great potential in the cation translocations.

Although attractive interactions between π systems (π-π interaction) have been known for many years, understanding of its origin is still incomplete. Quantitative measuring of π-stacking is challenging due to the weak nature of the π-π interaction. This dissertation aims at elucidating a quantitative conformational analysis by NMR ring current anisotropy of an organic compound capable of intramolecular π-stacking in solution and studying charge effects on the stacking of π-systems. This dissertation offers four contributions to the area. (1) A general approach to four-state, conformational analysis based on the magnetic anisotropy of molecules undergoing fast dynamic exchange is described. (2) Study unveiled the importance of charges in the conformation of a dication in the solution. (3) Novel aromatic salt pairs of triangulene derivatives with the delocalized cation-anion interaction were synthesized and studied. (4) Study unveiled ionic π-systems preferred face-to-face stacking due to strong cation-π and anion-cation attractions. A general protocol for the application of magnetic anisotropy to quantitative multi-state conformational analysis of molecules undergoing fast conformational exchange was suggested in the current study. The reliability of this method of conformational analysis was checked by the mass balance. VT-NMR was also conducted to study the enthalpic parameters. This technique can be further used to study canonical interactions such as ion pairing, hydrogen boning, and molecular recognition. In the current study, dependence of the probe conformations on the dispersive interactions at the aromatic edges between solvent and probes was tested by conformational distributions of the fluorinated derivatives (2b and 2c) of the probe molecule (1a). Solution and solid studies of these molecules put the previous conclusion drawn by the Cammers group in question. Current studies show that the dispersive interaction at the aromatic edge could not be the predominant force on the conformational changes in the probe molecule 1a during the fluoroalkanol perturbation. This study indicated that charges might be important in the formation of the folding conformations in the solution and solid state of 1a, 2b, and 2c. A contribution of this thesis was to prepare and study a conformational model that lacked charges. The previous molecules were charged. The solid-state structures of pyridinium-derived aromatic rings from the CSD (Cambridge Structural Database) were studied to investigate the π-π interaction between cationic π-systems in solid state. Novel aromatic salt pairs of triangulene derivatives with the delocalized cation-anion interaction were synthesized to study the π-π interaction between two aromatic rings that carried opposite charges. This study showed that the interaction between ionic π-systems can be enhanced by cation-π and anion-cation attractions. The stackings of these π-systems introduce more overlap, closer packing and stronger atomic contact than that of the solid states of comparable neutral species. Cation-π and anion-cation attractions are synergistic in aromatic salts.

2-Benzyloxy-1-methylpyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate (commonly referred to as benzyloxypyridinium triflate or Dudley’s salt) is a novel protecting reagent for the conversion of an alcohol functional group into a benzyl ether. This novel protecting reagent allows for protection of an alcohols, carboxylic acids, and other nucleophiles under mild conditions. The two traditional methods of forming this benzyl ether rely on either basic (Williamson ether synthesis) or acidic (coupling via trichloroacetimidate with a strong acid) conditions which may potentially decompose sensitive substrates. This research will investigate the mechanism by which benzyloxypyridinium triflate decomposes. Investigation of benzyloxypyridinium triflate will require two aspects, synthesis of various derivatives and a rate study. The synthesis of benzyloxypyridinium triflate derivatives (broadly named benzyloxypyridinium salts) will result in a series of new compounds, along with new synthetic routes to make them. Testing the derivatives to ensure they form the expected benzyl ether or ester then allows for investigation of the rate for each derivative as they form the benzyl ether. Among the various techniques that may be employed to study the mechanism, rate studies will be a significant portion of data used to draw a conclusion. Each derivative of the benzyloxypyridinium triflate is designed to affect the rate of decomposition thereby changing the rate of benzyl ether formation by either promoting or impeding the formation of a carbocation. Monitoring the rate of each derivative and comparing that rate to the rate of the benzyloxy- pyridinium triflate will give insight to a mechanistic pathway, indicating whether the pathway is more unimolecular or bimolecular. An immediate application of a known mechanism could lead to more desirable conditions for the benzyloxypyridinim triflate when forming the benzyl ether. In addition, having an understanding of the mechanism allows for the utility of arylmethylpyridinium salts to be expanded by allowing the pyridinium salt to deliver a variety of different electrophiles. The mechanism will also allow for different nucleophiles to trap the corresponding electrophile from the pyridinium salt. / No title page or introductory pages in thesis body PDF. / Department of Chemistry

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