Synthetic and mechanistic aspects of the reactions of α-diazosulfoxides

The research described in this thesis focuses, principally, on synthesis of stable α-diazosulfoxides and investigation of their reactivity under various reaction conditions (transition-metal catalysed, photochemical, thermal and microwave) with a particular emphasis on the reactive intermediates and mechanistic aspects of the reaction pathways involved. In agreement with previous studies carried out on these compounds, the key reaction pathway of α-diazosulfoxides was found to be hetero-Wolff rearrangement to give α-oxosulfine intermediates. However, a competing reaction pathway involving oxygen migration from sulfur to oxygen was also observed. Critically, isomerisation of α-oxosulfine stereoisomers was observed directly by 1H NMR spectroscopy in this work and this observation accounts for the stereochemical outcomes of the various cycloaddition reactions, whether carried out with in situ trapping or with preformed solutions of sulfines. Furthermore, matrix isolation experiments have shown that electrocyclisation of α-oxosulfines to oxathiiranes takes place and this verifies the proposed mechanisms for enol and disulfide formation. The introductory chapter includes a brief literature review of the synthesis and reactivity of α-diazosulfoxides prior to the commencement of research in this field by the Maguire group. The Wolff rearrangement is also discussed and the characteristic reactions of a number of reactive intermediates (sulfines, sulfenes and oxathiiranes) are outlined. The use of microwave-assisted organic synthesis is also examined, specifically, in the context of α-diazocarbonyl compounds as substrates. The second chapter describes the synthesis of stable monocyclic and bicyclic lactone derivatives of α-diazosulfoxides from sulfide precursors according to established experimental procedures. Approaches to precursors of ketone and sulfimide derivatives of α-diazosulfoxides are also described. The third chapter examines the reactivity of α-diazosulfoxides under thermal, microwave, rhodium(II)-catalysed and photochemical conditions. Comparison of the results obtained under thermal and microwave conditions indicates that there was no evidence for any effect, other than thermal, induced by microwave irradiation. The results of catalyst studies involving several rhodium(II) carboxylate and rhodium(II) carboxamidate catalysts are outlined. Under photochemical conditions, sulfur extrusion is a significant reaction pathway while under thermal or transition metal catalysed conditions, oxygen extrusion is observed. One of the most important observations in this work was the direct spectroscopic observation (by 1H NMR) of interconversion of the E and Z-oxosulfines. Trapping of the α-oxosulfine intermediates as cycloadducts by reaction with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene proved useful both synthetically and mechanistically. As the stereochemistry of the α-oxosulfine is retained in the cycloadducts, this provided an ideal method for characterisation of this key feature. In the case of one α-oxosulfine, a novel [2+2] cycloaddition was observed. Preliminary experiments to investigate the reactivity of an α-diazosulfone under rhodium(II) catalysis and microwave irradiation are also described. The fourth chapter describes matrix isolation experiments which were carried out in Rühr Universität, Bochum in collaboration with Prof. Wolfram Sander. These experiments provide direct spectroscopic evidence of an α-oxosulfine intermediate formed by hetero-Wolff rearrangement of an α-diazosulfoxide and subsequent cyclisation of the sulfine to an oxathiirane was also observed. Furthermore, it was possible to identify which stereoisomer of the α-oxosulfine was present in the matrix. A preliminary laser flash photolysis experiment is also discussed. The experimental details, including all spectral and analytical data, are reported at the end of each chapter. The structural interpretation of 1H NMR spectra of the cycloadducts, described in Chapter 3, is discussed in Appendix I.

A mechanistic study of anodic formation of porous InP

When porous InP is anodically formed in KOH electrolytes, a thin layer ~40 nm in thickness, close to the surface, appears to be unmodified. We have investigated the earlier stages of the anodic formation of porous InP in 5 mol dm-3 KOH. TEM clearly shows individual porous domains which appear triangular in cross-section and square in plan view. The crosssections also show that the domains are separated from the surface by a ~40 nm thick, dense InP layer. It is concluded that the porous domains have a square-based pyramidal shape and that each one develops from an individual surface pit which forms a channel through this near-surface layer. We suggest that the pyramidal structure arises as a result of preferential pore propagation along the <100> directions. AFM measurements show that the density of surface pits increases with time. Each of these pits acts as a source for a pyramidal porous domain, and these domains eventually form a continuous porous layer. This implies that the development of porous domains beneath the surface is also progressive in nature. Evidence for this was seen in plan view TEM images. Merging of domains continues to occur at potentials more anodic than the peak potential, where the current is observed to decrease. When the domains grow, the current density increases correspondingly. Eventually, domains meet, the interface between the porous and bulk InP becomes relatively flat and its total effective surface area decreases resulting in a decrease in the current density. Quantitative models of this process are being developed.

Chemistry and synthesis of 3(2H)-furanones and 4,5-dihydro analogues: mechanistic investigations and stereochemical control

The subject matter of this thesis relates to the chemistry of the five-membered oxygen heterocycles – 3(2H)-furanones and their 4, 5-dihydro analogues. Chapter one of the thesis is a review of the relevant chemistry of the compounds: their synthesis and key transformations. In chapter two, new research on 3(2H)-furanones is outlined in two parts. The first describes an investigation into the cyclisation of α'-trialkylsilyloxyenone adducts with arenesulfenyl and selenenyl chlorides into the corresponding sulfur and selenium substituted 3(2H)-furanones without the involvement of a Lewis acid catalyst. The study, largely involving in situ NMR techniques, identified key features associated with the formation and reaction of the chlorosulfide and chloroselenide intermediates, including operation of the Thorpe-Ingold effect. The knowledge gained in this study was applied (the second part) to the synthesis of vinyl substituted furanone systems from α'-trialkylsilyloxydienones where choice of the reaction conditions and electrophilic reagent was a key feature. An important difference in the behaviour of arenesulfenyl and selenenyl halides towards conjugated dienes emerged from this work. This phase of the research concluded with a new synthesis of geiparvarin, a natural product possessing anti-tumour properties.