Segmented copolymers are important polymers with attractive properties and wide applications. In this dissertation, segmented polyurethanes containing triptycene units and multiblock copolymers containing poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PAES) and poly(1,4-cyclohexyldimethylene terephthalate) (PCT) segments were synthesized and systematically studied. Investigation of the influence of the bulky triptycene structure on the morphologies and properties of segmented polyurethanes was carried out by using triptycene-1,4-hydroquinone bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ether (TD) as the chain extender. Segmented polyurethanes based on poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG) of 1000 g/mol were synthesized using a two-step polymerization procedure. Hydroquinone bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ether (HQEE) was used for the purpose of comparison. Hard segments with different bulkiness and flexibility were prepared with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI), and HQEE or TD as chain extenders. The incorporation of bulky TD and less flexible MDI significantly inhibited hydrogen bonding based on the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results. In addition, the microphase separation was also disturbed by the bulky and less flexible hard segments with confirmation from tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The flexible HDI can be used to overcome the bulkiness of triptycene, promote microphase separation, and enhance mechanical properties. Novel PTMG based soft segments containing triptycene units were also prepared with number average molecular weight (Mn) around 2500 g/mol. Then this soft segment was reacted with MDI and HQEE to prepare segmented polyurethanes. Soft segments such as hydroquinone (HQ) containing PTMG (Mn = 2100 g/mol), and pure PTMGs (Mn = 1000 and 2000 g/mol) were used for comparison. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results demonstrated that triptycene units led to an increased glass transition temperature (Tg) and an elimination of the crystallization of the soft segments. The absence of strain hardening for the triptycene-containing sample suggested a suppressed strain induced crystallization of soft segments, which was also confirmed by the analysis of wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) on the films strained to 370 %. Crystallizable PCT segments were copolymerized with PAESs to enhance solvent resistance and mechanical properties. PAES oligomers (Mn = 2000 g/mol) were first synthesized, and then reacted with dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM). Weight percentages of PCT segments were gradually changed from 20 wt% to 80 wt%. With PCT content greater than 50 wt%, crystallinity was observed by DSC, DMA, and WAXD. The extent of crystallinity of the copolymers was dependent on the wt% of PCT. Furthermore, crystallization behavior of copolymers based on two CHDMs with different isomer ratios (cis/trans 30/70 and all trans) were studied. Due to their more symmetric structure, copolymers based on all trans CHDM exhibited a higher extent of crystallization. / Ph. D.

Crosslinking is an effective technique for increasing the salt rejection of water purification membranes and the selectivity of gas separation membranes. An abundance of monomers, telechelic oligomers, and novel polymers were synthesized for use as separation membranes. These materials were often imbued with crosslinking functionalities to increase their performance during testing at the University of Texas-Austin. Crosslinking of sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) oligomers was studied systematically with regard to end-group functionality, polymer composition, and polymer hydrophilicity. Sulfonated bisphenol A based poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymers were synthesized with reactive amine endgroups and further functionalized with a tetra-epoxy resin, acryloyl chloride, phenylethynyl phthalic anhydride, and maleic anhydride. The reaction between amine terminated oligomers and a tetra-epoxy produced large, ductile membranes with gel fractions approaching 99%, the highest reported for crosslinked sulfonated polysulfone oligomers. This crosslinking reaction was studied by synthesizing two series of oligomers, one based on a bisphenol A monomer and the other based on a 4,4’-biphenol monomer. Both series were synthesized with 40, 50 and 60% degrees of sulfonation, so that hydrophilicity and composition could be studied with regard to water purification properties. All six oligomers were produced with a gel fraction exceeding 90%, and the membranes were evaluated at the University of Texas-Austin. The crosslinked oligomers demonstrated relatively constant salt rejection across a range of hydrophilicity values, which proved that crosslinking restricted the large amount of swelling that non-crosslinked sulfonated polysulfones undergo. The crosslinked oligomers had the best water purification properties reported for sulfonated polysulfone, with similar water permeabilities and an order of magnitude higher selectivity (Pw/Ps = 1.69 ± 0.13 x 103) than analogous linear copolymers (Pw/Ps = 3.67 ± 0.53 x 102). An additional series of linear sulfonated copolymers were also synthesized based upon a hydroquinone bisphenol, which also had superior water purification properties (1.06 ± 0.06 L μm m-2 h-1 bar-1, Pw/Ps = 2.44 ± 0.15 x 103) compared to previously synthesized linear copolymers. Poly(arylene ether)s were also investigated for use as gas separation membranes. A poly(arylene ether ketone) and poly(arylene ether sulfone) were both synthesized with moieties capable of oxidation and/or photocrosslinking through benzylic hydrogen abstraction by an excited ketone. The polymers produced tough, ductile films. Gas transport properties of the linear polymers and crosslinked polymer were compared. The O2 permeability of one exemplary non-crosslinked poly(arylene ether) was 2.8 Barrer, with an O2/N2 selectivity of 5.4. Following UV crosslinking, the O2 permeability decreased to 1.8 Barrer, and the O2/N2 selectivity increased to 6.2. / Ph. D.

Le fipronil, insecticide largement utilisé, est un perturbateur thyroïdien chez le rat modulant le catabolisme hépatique des hormones thyroïdiennes. Ses effets chez le mouton, considéré comme un modèle plus pertinent que le rat pour étudier une régulation de la fonction thyroïdienne chez l'Homme, sont plus limités. Le but de cette thèse était de caractériser au niveau hépatique le mode d'action du fipronil sur la fonction thyroïdienne en s'intéressant 1) au rôle potentiel du principal métabolite du fipronil formé in vivo, le fipronil sulfone, et 2) aux différences interspécifiques de métabolisme du fipronil et/ou de sensibilité à la perturbation thyroïdienne qui peuvent préjuger de la pertinence des différents modèles animaux pour l'analyse du risque du fipronil pour la santé humaine. L'efficacité du fipronil sulfone à induire l'expression et/ou l'activité d'enzymes responsables du métabolisme hépatique des hormones thyroïdiennes ou du fipronil était la même que celle du fipronil autant in vivo chez le rat que in vitro sur hépatocytes. L'utilisation d'un modèle de souris déficientes pour des récepteurs nucléaires xénosenseurs suggérait fortement une implication des récepteurs nucléaires Constitutive Androstane Receptor et/ou Pregnane X Receptor dans la perturbation thyroïdienne induite par le fipronil / The widely used insecticide fipronil is a thyroid disruptor in rat acting on thyroid hormone hepatic metabolism. In sheep, a more relevant species for the human thyroid regulation, fipronil-induced thyroid-disruption is much more limited. The goal of this thesis was to characterize the mode of action of fipronil on thyroid function at the hepatic level focusing on 1) the potential role of fipronil sulfone, the main fipronil metabolite formed in vivo, and on 2) interspecific differences in terms of fipronil metabolism and/or sensitivity to thyroid disruption that can prejudge of the relevance of the different animal models for the risk assessment of fipronil for human health. Fipronil sulfone was as efficient as fipronil to induce the expression and/or activity of enzymes involved in thyroid hormone or fipronil hepatic metabolism both in vivo in rat and in vitro on hepatocytes. The use of knock-out mice for xenosensors nuclear receptors strongly suggested an implication of the nuclear receptor Constitutive Androstane Receptor and/or Pregnane X Receptor on fipronil-induced thyroid disruption

Foram preparadas algumas 2-sulfinil-3,6-dimetil-1,4-benzoquinonas racêmicas (contendo substituintes p-tolila, terc-butila, iso-butila e iso-propila ligados ao enxofre) e estudadas as suas reações de Diels-Alder com ciclopentadieno, sob condições térmicas e catalíticas. Com estes estudos foi constatada a habilidade destas quinonas em gerar majoritariamente certos tipos de adutos, dependendo das condições utilizadas. Na ausência de catalisadores, formaram-se principalmente os adutos resultantes da aproximação do ciclopentadieno sobre a dupla C-C não sulfinilada, pela face da quinona para a qual não está voltado o par de elétrons do enxofre, quando a ligação C-S se encontra na conformação s-cis. O uso de BF3.Et2O provocou uma inversão da face atacada, mas manteve a quimiosseletividade observada na ausência deste catalisador. Já, pelo emprego de ZnBr2, houve preferência do ataque do ciclopentadieno sobre a dupla C-C da quinona sulfinilada. As conclusões de tal estudo permitiram selecionar as condições a serem utilizadas para a obtenção de certos adutos com vistas a serem estes depois empregados para a síntese de um precursor enantiopuro do hirsuteno. Os trabalhos prosseguiram com ensaios para se determinar a melhor forma de obtenção de tal precursor: i) fotoisomerização a compostos gaiola seguida de dessulfurização ou ii) remoção do enxofre do aduto de Diels-Alder e fotociclização do produto dessulfurizado. A reação de fotociclização do aduto de Diels-Alder formado pela reação do dieno sobre a dupla sulfinilada da quinona gerou o compostogaiola dessulfurizado e também um novo aduto, cuja estrutura supõe-se ser a de uma enodiona hidroxilada, mas de configuração trans entre os anéis. Pela rota dessulfurizante ii), o mesmo composto foi obtido quando se empregou o hidreto de tributilestanho/AIBN, também ao lado do compostogaiola. As melhores condições para a obtenção de um precursor do hirsuteno enantiopuro foram estabelecidas como sendo aquelas que seguem a rota ii), isto é, dessulfurização do aduto de Diels-Alder resultante do ataque do ciclopentadieno sobre a dupla não sulfinilada, em condições catalíticas (BF3Et2O), quando o grupo sulfinila ligado à quinona está com a configuração S e contém um substituinte isso-propila, seguida de fotociclização do aduto sem enxofre. / Some racemic 2-tolyl- or 2-alkylsulfinyl-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinones (alkyl is terc-butyl or iso-butyl or iso-propyl) were prepared and submitted to the Diels-Alder reactions with cyclopentadiene, under thermal or catalytic conditions. It was verified that the sulfinyl group is able to control the chemo- and diasterofaciaselectivity, giving rise to different adducts, depending on the reactions conditions. In the absence of catalyst, the above mentioned quinones underwent cycloaddition mainly on the non-sulfinylated quinoidic C-C double bond. The resulting adducts arised from the approach of diene from the more hindered face of the quinone, ie that one where the lone pair at sulfur is not located on, when the C-S bond is in a s-cis conformation. The use of BF3.Et2O diverted the cycloaddition to the other face, but kept the same chemoselectivity. When ZnBr2 was employed, the chemoselectivity was reversed, being the sulfinylated C-C double bond preferentially attacked by cyclopentadiene. The conclusions which arised from this study allowed the selection of the best set of conditions for obtaining the structurally more adequate sulfinyl-Diels-Alder adducts for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure hirsutene. Two pathways were assayed in order to transform the sulfinylated Diels-Alder adducts into a structurally closely related precursor of hirsutene: i) photoisomerization of the above mentioned Diels-Alder adducts followed by desulfurization of the resulting cage-compounds or ii) removal of the sulfurated moiety from the sulfinyl-Diels-Alder adducts followed by photocyclization. Irradiation of the Diels-Alder adduct containing a sulfinyl group at the ring junction led to the desired sulfur-free cage-compound in amixture with other product. The proposed structure for this new compound is based on a Diels-Alder adduct with a trans configuration, with an hydroxyl group linked to the enedionic system. This same compound was obtained, in amixture with the sulfur-free Diels-Alder adduct, when route ii) was tested using tributyltin hydride/AIBN as desulfurizating agent. In summary, the best conditions for the synthesis of an enantiomerically pure precursor of hirsutene is desulfurization of the Diels-Alder adduct resulting from the BF3.Et2O catalysed cycloaddition between the cyclopentadiene and 2-(SS)-iso-propylsulfinyl-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone, followed by photoisomerization of the sulfur-free product.

Les spirocétals sont des sous-unités présentes dans de nombreuses molécules naturelles d'intérêt biologique. Pour accéder à ces structures, la spirocyclisation d'éthers d'énol en milieu acide est une méthode de choix. L'application de la réaction de Julia-Kocienski à des lactones a permis d'obtenir exo-glycals et éthers d'énol exo-cycliques tri- et tétrasubstitués. Selon l'hétérocycle porté parla sulfone engagée, l'un ou l'autre des diastéréoisomères de l'éther d'énol peut être obtenu préférentiellement. La spirocyclisation des produits formés, si elle est réalisée dans des conditions thermodynamiques, mène au [6.6]-spirocétal le plus stable. Des conditions permettant d'obtenir le diastéréoisomère cinétique ont également été étudiées. Les spirocétals ainsi préparés ont été utilisés en synthèse totale. Par exemple, le fragment spirocétal de la Broussonetine H, ainsi que l'unité iminosucre, ont été obtenus efficacement de façon énantiopure. Enfin, les spirocétals diversement substitués ont permis de préparer plusieurs analogues du Bistramide A. Ce métabolite marin est un agent anticancéreux puissant qui se lie à l'actine pour bloquer la division cellulaire mais des interactions avec PKC-TM, notamment impliquant l'apoptose, sont à l'étude.

This work seeks to develop new solvents for environmentally benign chemical synthesis. Switchable solvents are a new class of compounds that change properties upon the application of some stimulus such as heat, UV light, or pH. We have developed the use of a new solvent, thiirane oxide, that has chemical properties similar to DMSO. Thiirane oxide, however, undergoes facile decomposition to two gases at temperatures above 100 C, which is much lower than the temperature required for removing DMSO. Thus we have a solvent with excellent solvation properties, but with a built-in switch for easier removal. However, thiirane oxide leaves behind sulfurous products which make the reverse reaction to reform the solvent unfeasible. We are also developing the use of another solvent, piperylene sulfone, which is expected to have good solvent properties, yet with decomposition products that can be reacted to reform the solvent. This thesis also details the work to date on piperylene sulfone. Gas-expanded liquids (GXLs) also show promise as a new reaction medium. In order to design solvent systems that take full advantage of this medium, we desire to understand the microstructure of these fluids. To that end, we are using cage reactions to probe solute-solvent and solvent-solvent interactions at the molecular level. This thesis discusses the current research on using cage reactions to probe the structure of GXLs.

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Foram preparadas algumas 2-sulfinil-3,6-dimetil-1,4-benzoquinonas racêmicas (contendo substituintes p-tolila, terc-butila, iso-butila e iso-propila ligados ao enxofre) e estudadas as suas reações de Diels-Alder com ciclopentadieno, sob condições térmicas e catalíticas. Com estes estudos foi constatada a habilidade destas quinonas em gerar majoritariamente certos tipos de adutos, dependendo das condições utilizadas. Na ausência de catalisadores, formaram-se principalmente os adutos resultantes da aproximação do ciclopentadieno sobre a dupla C-C não sulfinilada, pela face da quinona para a qual não está voltado o par de elétrons do enxofre, quando a ligação C-S se encontra na conformação s-cis. O uso de BF3.Et2O provocou uma inversão da face atacada, mas manteve a quimiosseletividade observada na ausência deste catalisador. Já, pelo emprego de ZnBr2, houve preferência do ataque do ciclopentadieno sobre a dupla C-C da quinona sulfinilada. As conclusões de tal estudo permitiram selecionar as condições a serem utilizadas para a obtenção de certos adutos com vistas a serem estes depois empregados para a síntese de um precursor enantiopuro do hirsuteno. Os trabalhos prosseguiram com ensaios para se determinar a melhor forma de obtenção de tal precursor: i) fotoisomerização a compostos gaiola seguida de dessulfurização ou ii) remoção do enxofre do aduto de Diels-Alder e fotociclização do produto dessulfurizado. A reação de fotociclização do aduto de Diels-Alder formado pela reação do dieno sobre a dupla sulfinilada da quinona gerou o compostogaiola dessulfurizado e também um novo aduto, cuja estrutura supõe-se ser a de uma enodiona hidroxilada, mas de configuração trans entre os anéis. Pela rota dessulfurizante ii), o mesmo composto foi obtido quando se empregou o hidreto de tributilestanho/AIBN, também ao lado do compostogaiola. As melhores condições para a obtenção de um precursor do hirsuteno enantiopuro foram estabelecidas como sendo aquelas que seguem a rota ii), isto é, dessulfurização do aduto de Diels-Alder resultante do ataque do ciclopentadieno sobre a dupla não sulfinilada, em condições catalíticas (BF3Et2O), quando o grupo sulfinila ligado à quinona está com a configuração S e contém um substituinte isso-propila, seguida de fotociclização do aduto sem enxofre. / Some racemic 2-tolyl- or 2-alkylsulfinyl-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinones (alkyl is terc-butyl or iso-butyl or iso-propyl) were prepared and submitted to the Diels-Alder reactions with cyclopentadiene, under thermal or catalytic conditions. It was verified that the sulfinyl group is able to control the chemo- and diasterofaciaselectivity, giving rise to different adducts, depending on the reactions conditions. In the absence of catalyst, the above mentioned quinones underwent cycloaddition mainly on the non-sulfinylated quinoidic C-C double bond. The resulting adducts arised from the approach of diene from the more hindered face of the quinone, ie that one where the lone pair at sulfur is not located on, when the C-S bond is in a s-cis conformation. The use of BF3.Et2O diverted the cycloaddition to the other face, but kept the same chemoselectivity. When ZnBr2 was employed, the chemoselectivity was reversed, being the sulfinylated C-C double bond preferentially attacked by cyclopentadiene. The conclusions which arised from this study allowed the selection of the best set of conditions for obtaining the structurally more adequate sulfinyl-Diels-Alder adducts for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure hirsutene. Two pathways were assayed in order to transform the sulfinylated Diels-Alder adducts into a structurally closely related precursor of hirsutene: i) photoisomerization of the above mentioned Diels-Alder adducts followed by desulfurization of the resulting cage-compounds or ii) removal of the sulfurated moiety from the sulfinyl-Diels-Alder adducts followed by photocyclization. Irradiation of the Diels-Alder adduct containing a sulfinyl group at the ring junction led to the desired sulfur-free cage-compound in amixture with other product. The proposed structure for this new compound is based on a Diels-Alder adduct with a trans configuration, with an hydroxyl group linked to the enedionic system. This same compound was obtained, in amixture with the sulfur-free Diels-Alder adduct, when route ii) was tested using tributyltin hydride/AIBN as desulfurizating agent. In summary, the best conditions for the synthesis of an enantiomerically pure precursor of hirsutene is desulfurization of the Diels-Alder adduct resulting from the BF3.Et2O catalysed cycloaddition between the cyclopentadiene and 2-(SS)-iso-propylsulfinyl-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone, followed by photoisomerization of the sulfur-free product.

Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is a uniquely destructive serine protease with the ability to unleash a wave of proteolytic activity by destroying the inhibitors of other proteases. Although this phenomenon forms an important part of the innate immune response to invading pathogens, it is responsible for the collateral host tissue damage observed in chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and in more acute disorders such as the lung injuries associated with COVID-19 infection. Previously, a combinatorially selected activity-based probe revealed an unexpected substrate preference for oxidised methionine, which suggests a link to oxida-tive pathogen clearance by neutrophils. Here we use oxidised model substrates and inhibitors to confirm this observation and to show that neutrophil elastase is specifically selective for the di-oxygenated methionine sulfone rather than the mono-oxygenated methionine sulfoxide. We also posit a critical role for ordered solvent in the mechanism of HNE discrimination between the two oxidised forms methionine residue. Preference for the sulfone form of oxidised methionine is especially significant. While both host and pathogens have the ability to reduce methionine sulfoxide back to methionine, a biological pathway to reduce methionine sulfone is not known. Taken to-gether, these data suggest that the oxidative activity of neutrophils may create rapidly cleaved elas-tase “super substrates” that directly damage tissue, while initiating a cycle of neutrophil oxidation that increases elastase tissue damage and further neutrophil recruitment.

Hydrophilic/hydrophobic block copolymers as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) has become an emerging area of research in recent years. Three series of hydrophilic/hydrophobic, fluorinated/sulfonated multiblock copolymers were synthesized and characterized in this thesis. These copolymers were obtained through moderate temperature (~100°C) coupling reactions, which minimize the ether-ether interchanges between hydrophobic and hydrophilic telechelic oligomers via a nucleophilic aromatic substitution mechanism. The hydrophilic blocks were based on the nucleophilic step polymerization of 3,3′-disulfonated, 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone with an excess 4,4′-biphenol to afford phenoxide endgroups. The hydrophobic (fluorinated) blocks were largely based on decafluoro biphenyl (excess) and various bisphenols. The copolymers were obtained in high molecular weights and were solvent cast into tough membranes, which had nanophase separated hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. The performance and structure-property relationships of these materials were studied and compared to random copolymer systems. NMR results supported that the multiblock sequence had been achieved. They displayed superior proton conductivity, due to the ionic proton conducting channels formed through the self-assembly of the sulfonated blocks. The nano-phase separated morphologies of the copolymer membranes were studied and confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Through control of a variety of parameters, including ion exchange capacity and sequence lengths, performances as high, or even higher than those of the state-of-the-art PEM, Nafion, were achieved. / Ph. D.