Die selektive Funktionalisierung nicht aktivierter C−H-Bindungen und die Disauerstoffreduktionsreaktion (ORR) sind extrem wichtig bei der Beschäftigung mit verschiedenen technologischen Problemstellungen wie der Energiekrise, der Synthese kommerziell relevanter organischer Verbindungen usw. Die Nutzung molekularen Sauerstoffs als reichlich vorhandenes und umweltverträgliches Oxidationsmittel ist von großem Interesse in der Entwicklung bioinspirierter synthetischer Oxidationskatalysatoren. Die katalytische Vier-Elektronen-Reduktion von Disauerstoff zu Wasser erlangte auch immer größere Aufmerksamkeit wegen ihrer Bedeutung in der Brennstoffzellentechnologie. Natürlich vorkommende Metalloenzyme aktivieren Disauerstoff durch die Nutzung günstiger Übergangsmetalle (z.B. Eisen, Nickel, Mangan und Kupfer) und weisen diverse oxidative Reaktivitäten auf. Des Weiteren werden solche Reaktionen unter Umgebungsbedingungen mit hoher Effizienz und Stereoselektivität durchgeführt. Deshalb kann die Isolierung und Charakterisierung hochvalenter Metall-Disauerstoff-Intermediate (wie Metall-Superoxo-, Metall-Peroxo-, Metall-Hydroperoxo- und Metall-Oxo-Verbindungen) eine Menge nützlicher Informationen über die Reaktionsmechanismen liefern und daher hilfreich für die zukünftige Entwicklung effizienterer Katalysatoren sein. Diese Arbeit hat die Chemie verschiedener Metall-Disauerstoff-Intermediate von end-on-1,2-Peroxo-dicobalt(III)-Spezies bis zu Superoxo-nickel(II)-Kernen erforscht. Detaillierte spektroskopische Untersuchungen sowie Reaktivitätsstudien der Intermediate wurden durchgeführt, um den Zusammenhang zwischen ihrer elektronischen Struktur und ihren Reaktivitätsmustern aufzuklären. In meiner Arbeit untersuchte ich den Effekt der ‚Struktur-Aktivität-Beziehung‘ verschiedener Metall-Disauerstoff-Intermediate gegenüber exogener Substrate. Diese Arbeit zeigte auch den Einfluss des Designs geeigneter Liganden auf das Verhalten eines gegebenen reaktiven Metall-Disauerstoff-Systems. / Selective functionalization of unactivated C−H bonds and dioxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are extremely important in the context of addressing various technological issues such as energy-crisis, synthesis of commercially important organic compounds, etc. The utilization of molecular oxygen as an abundant and environmentally benign oxidant is of great interest in the design of bioinspired synthetic oxidation catalysts. The catalytic four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water has also merited increasing attention because of its relevance to fuel cell technology. Naturally occurring metalloenzymes activate dioxygen by employing cheap transition metals (e.g. iron, nickel, manganese, and copper) and exhibit diverse oxidative reactivities. Moreover, such reactions are carried out under ambient conditions with high efficiency and stereospecificity. Therefore, the isolation and characterization of the high-valent metal-dioxygen intermediates (such as metal-superoxo, -peroxo, -hydroperoxo, and -oxo can provide a lot of useful information about the reaction mechanisms and is therefore helpful for the future design of more efficient catalysts. This thesis has explored the chemistry of different metal-dioxygen intermediates ranging from bridging end-on μ-1,2-peroxo-dicobalt(III) species to nickel(II)-superoxo cores. Detailed spectroscopic and reactivity studies of the intermediates have been performed to reveal the correlations between their electronic structures and reactivity patterns. In my present thesis, I investigated the effect of the ‘structure-activity relationship’ of different metal-dioxygen intermediates towards exogenous substrates. This thesis also demonstrated the impact of suitable ligand design on the behaviour of a given metal-dioxygen reactive system.

The expanding therapeutic use of thalidomide (TD) remains limited by its species-specific teratogenicity in humans and rabbits, but not rodents. The R and S isomers of TD may be selectively responsible for its respective therapeutic and teratogenic effects, but rapid in vivo racemization makes this impossible to confirm. Fluorothalidomide (FTD), a fluorinated TD analogue with stable, non-racemizing isomers, may serve as a model compound for determining stereoselective effects. In vivo, FTD was undetectable in plasma, suggesting rapid breakdown, as confirmed in vitro, where FTD hydrolyzed up to 22-fold faster than TD. Unlike TD, FTD in pregnant rabbits and mice was highly toxic and lethal to both dams and fetuses. In rabbit embryo culture, FTD initiated optic (eye) vesicle and hindbrain but not classic limb bud embryopathies. Chemical instability, potent general toxicity and absence of limb bud embryopathies make FTD an unsuitable stereoselective model for TD teratogenesis. TD teratogenesis may involve its bioactivation by embryonic prostaglandin H synthases (PHSs) to a free radical intermediate that increases embryopathic reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. However, the teratogenic potential of rapidly formed TD hydrolysis products and the determinants of species-specific teratogenesis are unclear. For some teratogens, mouse strains that are resistant in vivo are susceptible in embryo culture, suggesting maternal and/or placental determinants of risk. However, TD and two hydrolysis products, 2-phthalimidoglutaramic acid (PGMA) and 2-phthalimidoglutaraic acid (PGA), were non-embryopathic in CD-1 mouse embryo culture. Also, mice deficient in oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1), which repairs oxidatively damaged DNA, were resistant to TD embryopathies in culture and in vivo. Therefore, murine resistance to TD teratogenesis is dependent on embryonic factors, rather than maternal/placental determinants or increased DNA repair. In contrast, rabbit embryos exposed in culture to TD, PGMA and PGA exhibited head/brain, otic (ear) vesicle and classic limb bud embryopathies, validating the first mammalian embryo culture model for TD teratogenesis and providing the first evidence of a teratogenic role for TD hydrolysis products. Pretreatment with eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), a dual PHS/lipoxygenase inhibitor, or phenylbutylnitrone (PBN), a free radical spin trapping agent, completely blocked TD, PGMA and PGA-initiated embryopathies, implicating a PHS-dependent, ROS-mediated embryopathic mechanism.

The expanding therapeutic use of thalidomide (TD) remains limited by its species-specific teratogenicity in humans and rabbits, but not rodents. The R and S isomers of TD may be selectively responsible for its respective therapeutic and teratogenic effects, but rapid in vivo racemization makes this impossible to confirm. Fluorothalidomide (FTD), a fluorinated TD analogue with stable, non-racemizing isomers, may serve as a model compound for determining stereoselective effects. In vivo, FTD was undetectable in plasma, suggesting rapid breakdown, as confirmed in vitro, where FTD hydrolyzed up to 22-fold faster than TD. Unlike TD, FTD in pregnant rabbits and mice was highly toxic and lethal to both dams and fetuses. In rabbit embryo culture, FTD initiated optic (eye) vesicle and hindbrain but not classic limb bud embryopathies. Chemical instability, potent general toxicity and absence of limb bud embryopathies make FTD an unsuitable stereoselective model for TD teratogenesis. TD teratogenesis may involve its bioactivation by embryonic prostaglandin H synthases (PHSs) to a free radical intermediate that increases embryopathic reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. However, the teratogenic potential of rapidly formed TD hydrolysis products and the determinants of species-specific teratogenesis are unclear. For some teratogens, mouse strains that are resistant in vivo are susceptible in embryo culture, suggesting maternal and/or placental determinants of risk. However, TD and two hydrolysis products, 2-phthalimidoglutaramic acid (PGMA) and 2-phthalimidoglutaraic acid (PGA), were non-embryopathic in CD-1 mouse embryo culture. Also, mice deficient in oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1), which repairs oxidatively damaged DNA, were resistant to TD embryopathies in culture and in vivo. Therefore, murine resistance to TD teratogenesis is dependent on embryonic factors, rather than maternal/placental determinants or increased DNA repair. In contrast, rabbit embryos exposed in culture to TD, PGMA and PGA exhibited head/brain, otic (ear) vesicle and classic limb bud embryopathies, validating the first mammalian embryo culture model for TD teratogenesis and providing the first evidence of a teratogenic role for TD hydrolysis products. Pretreatment with eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), a dual PHS/lipoxygenase inhibitor, or phenylbutylnitrone (PBN), a free radical spin trapping agent, completely blocked TD, PGMA and PGA-initiated embryopathies, implicating a PHS-dependent, ROS-mediated embryopathic mechanism.

4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazoles are postulated to be key intermediates in the synthesis of ketones from alkenes on an industrial scale, alkylation of DNA in vivo, decomposition of N-nitrosoureas (potent carcinogens), and are also a subject of great interest for theoretical chemists. In this thesis, formation of the parent compound and decay into secondary products has been studied by NMR monitoring analysis. The elusive properties and the intermediacy of the parent compound, 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole, in the decomposition of suitably substituted N-nitrosoureas using Tl(I) alkoxides as bases, have been confirmed by the characterisation of its decay products viz., ethylene oxide, acetaldehyde, and especially diazomethane, at very low temperatures by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 15N NMR, and relevant 2D NMR methods. Moreover, it has been shown that the methylation of nucleophilic molecules by 3-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazolium salts, which are considered to be activated forms of β−hydroxyalkylnitrosamines, does not involve 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole as an intermediate, as has been reported in literature; instead, nucleophilic substitution leading to synthesis of open-chain products dominates the reaction. / 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole wurden als Schlüsselintermediate in der industriellen Synthese von Ketonen aus Alkenen, der in vivo Alkylierung von DNA und der Zersetzung von N-Nitrosoharnstoffen (potente Karzinogene) postuliert. Sie sind ebenso von großem Interesse in der theoretischen Chemie. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die Bildung der Stammverbindung und deren Zersetzung in sekundäre Produkte mittels NMR-Verfolgung studiert. Die ausgesprochene Kurzlebigkeit der Stammverbindung 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazol wurde durch die Charakterisierung der Produkte bei der Zersetzung geeignet substituierter N-Nitrosoharnstoffe mit Tl(I)-Alkoxiden bestätigt. Die Zersetzungsprodukte Ethylenoxid, Acetaldehyd und besonders Diazomethan wurden bei sehr niedrigen Temperaturen mittels 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 15N-NMR und relevanten 2D-NMR-Methoden charakterisiert. Des Weiteren konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Methylierung nucleophiler Spezies mit 3-Methyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazoliumsalzen, welchen als aktivierte Äquivalente der β−Hydroxyalkylnitrosamine verstanden werden, nicht zur Bildung von 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazol als Intermediat führt, so wie dies in der Literatur berichtet wurde. Stattdessen wird die Bildung offenkettiger Produkte durch nukleophile Substitution bevorzugt.

4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazoles are postulated to be key intermediates in the synthesis of ketones from alkenes on an industrial scale, alkylation of DNA in vivo, decomposition of N-nitrosoureas (potent carcinogens), and are also a subject of great interest for theoretical chemists. In this thesis, formation of the parent compound and decay into secondary products has been studied by NMR monitoring analysis. The elusive properties and the intermediacy of the parent compound, 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole, in the decomposition of suitably substituted N-nitrosoureas using Tl(I) alkoxides as bases, have been confirmed by the characterisation of its decay products viz., ethylene oxide, acetaldehyde, and especially diazomethane, at very low temperatures by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 15N NMR, and relevant 2D NMR methods. Moreover, it has been shown that the methylation of nucleophilic molecules by 3-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazolium salts, which are considered to be activated forms of β−hydroxyalkylnitrosamines, does not involve 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole as an intermediate, as has been reported in literature; instead, nucleophilic substitution leading to synthesis of open-chain products dominates the reaction. / 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole wurden als Schlüsselintermediate in der industriellen Synthese von Ketonen aus Alkenen, der in vivo Alkylierung von DNA und der Zersetzung von N-Nitrosoharnstoffen (potente Karzinogene) postuliert. Sie sind ebenso von großem Interesse in der theoretischen Chemie. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die Bildung der Stammverbindung und deren Zersetzung in sekundäre Produkte mittels NMR-Verfolgung studiert. Die ausgesprochene Kurzlebigkeit der Stammverbindung 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazol wurde durch die Charakterisierung der Produkte bei der Zersetzung geeignet substituierter N-Nitrosoharnstoffe mit Tl(I)-Alkoxiden bestätigt. Die Zersetzungsprodukte Ethylenoxid, Acetaldehyd und besonders Diazomethan wurden bei sehr niedrigen Temperaturen mittels 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 15N-NMR und relevanten 2D-NMR-Methoden charakterisiert. Des Weiteren konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Methylierung nucleophiler Spezies mit 3-Methyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazoliumsalzen, welchen als aktivierte Äquivalente der β−Hydroxyalkylnitrosamine verstanden werden, nicht zur Bildung von 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazol als Intermediat führt, so wie dies in der Literatur berichtet wurde. Stattdessen wird die Bildung offenkettiger Produkte durch nukleophile Substitution bevorzugt.