Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 224-250). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Department of Chemistry, August 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 224-250). Also available on the Internet.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

abstract / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

The work described herein is directed towards the Claisen rearrangements and [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of pyridine N-oxide systems. The pyridine N-oxide molecule is a very versatile and useful synthetic intermediate for the construction of more complex pyridines. Chapter 1 contains a review of work carried out within the group towards Claisen rearrangement of benzene-type systems. The acid catalysed rearrangement of these systems affords a high degree of regioselectivity. A literature survey of the [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of both aliphatic nitrones and aromatic N-oxides with various dipolarophiles is also included. Access to many stereochemically pure products demonstrates that the [3+2] cycloaddition has become a very important ring-forming reaction. Chapter 2 describes development of two Claisen rearrangement precursors and their subsequent attempted Claisen rearrangement is outlined. Chapter 3 details the construction of a range of 3-substituted pyridine N-oxides. Their attempted intermolecular cycloaddition, by thermal means and at high pressure, with mono- and di-activated dipolarophiles is described. Chapter 4 outlines attempts towards and the final synthesis of the ester cycloaddition precursors. Attempted intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition of these substrates both thermally and under high pressure is summarised. Chapter 5 describes approaches towards [3+2] cycloaddition precursors that contain mono- and di-activated dienophiles. The synthesis of a variety of 3-substituted pyridines is detailed.

This thesis describes an investigation of the mechanism of the bifunctional, a-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase, deacetoxy/deacetylcephalosporin C synthase (DAOC/DACS), which catalyses the ring-expansion of penicillin N to deacetoxycephalosporin C (DAOC) and the hydroxylation of this to deacetylcephalosporin C (DAC). The conversion of the unnatural substrate 3-exomethylene cephalosporin C by DAOC/DACS has been investigated in detail. A new metabolite was isolated from incubations of the deuterated [4-²H]-3-exomethylene cephalosporin C, and was identified as the 3β-spiroepoxide cepham, (2Ṟ,3Ṟ,6Ṟ,7Ṟ)-l-aza-[2-²H]-3-spiroepoxy-7-[(5Ṟ)-5-amino- 5-carboxypentanamido]-8-oxo-5-thiabicyclo[4.2.0]octane-2-carboxylic acid. The results obtained indicate that this metabolite is a shunt product whose formation is enhanced by the operation of a deuterium kinetic isotope effect on an enzyme-bound intermediate. It has also been found that this 3β-spiroepoxide cepham is further converted by DAOC/DACS to 3-formyl cephalosporoate products. The mechanism of oxygenation of DAOC/DACS was investigated through ¹⁸O-labelling studies. Incubations of [2-¹³C,3-²H]penicillin N and [4-²H]-3-exomethylene cephalosporin C with DAOC/DACS were carried out under ¹⁸O₂ or in H₂¹⁸O. Incorporation of ¹⁸O-label into the products [3-¹³C]DAC, [3-¹³C,4-²H]-3β-hydroxycepham and 3β-spiroepoxide cepham was observed from both sources. The results suggest that intermediates capable of oxygen-exchange are formed during the enzymatic reactions. Two substrate analogues, the 5-epipenicillin N and the 2β-difluoromethyl penicillin N, have been synthesised in order to probe the substrate specificity of DAOC/DACS with respect to the ring-expansion activity. The 5-epipenicillin N was not accepted as a substrate by DAOC/DACS, and the observations made indicate that it was unstable under the incubation conditions. No product was either observed from incubations of the 2β-difluoromethyl penicillin N with DAOC/DACS, although bioassay tests suggested a cephem product had been formed in very small amounts. Finally, the results of a substrate specificity comparison between the soluble recombinant enzymes deacetoxy/deacetylcephalosporin C synthase (DAOC/DACS) from Cephalosporium acremonium and deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS) from Streptomyces clavuligerus are described.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version.