New explorations in visible-light mediated energy and single electron transfer for nitrogen heterocycle synthesis

dc.contributor.advisorPetersen, Wade
dc.contributor.authorOddy, Meghan Jessica
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-20T10:52:07Z
dc.date.available2025-03-20T10:52:07Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.date.updated2025-03-20T10:47:34Z
dc.description.abstractWith the recent push toward green chemistry, photocatalysis has emerged as a powerful alternative for reactions that might otherwise need high temperatures, poor atom economy or harsh reactants to proceed. This thesis explores the use of visible-light mediated photocatalysis for the synthesis of biologically important nitrogen containing heterocycles, investigating both single electron transfer and energy transfer methods. The results section of this thesis is presented in three chapters, each focusing on a different ring size, namely 4, 5 and 6 membered nitrogen heterocycles. Chapter two explores the use of photocatalysis to enable stereoselective access to 3,3-disubstitued oxindoles via newly developed N-acyl chiral auxiliaries, serving as chiral C1 radical synthons. These acyl radicals are generated under visible-light mediated single electron transfer to N-hydroxyphthalimido esters, which then undergo a radical addition–cyclisation sequence with N-phenyl acrylamides. A model 3,3-disubstitued oxindole is isolated as separable diastereomers in 81% yield with 2.2:1 dr. This advanced intermediate could be telescoped toward the formal synthesis of the natural cyclotryptamine alkaloid, physovenine. Chapter three describes an efficient thioxanthone-catalysed triplet energy transfer process for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-ones from N-acrylamides. This work features a rare example of a metal-free formal C(sp2)–H/C(sp3)–H arylation mediated by visible-light. Using 450 nm light with 2 chlorothioxanthone in 2,2,2-TFE:CHCl3, a selection of 23 substituted 3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-ones are isolated in moderate to excellent yields (16–97%). The reaction is amenable to gram-scale synthesis, and the 3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-ones obtained are easily oxidized to the corresponding quinolin-2-ones, ultimately producing facile access to two privileged bioactive scaffolds. The reaction mechanisms presented are supported by Stern-Volmer plots as well as deuterium labelling studies. Finally, chapter four explores the synthesis of 2-azetidinones (β-lactams) from simple acrylamide starting materials by visible-light-mediated energy transfer catalysis. The reaction features a C(sp3)−H functionalisation via a variation of the Norrish–Yang photocyclisation involving a rare carbon-to-carbon 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer. The proposed mechanism is supported by deuterium labelling and DFT calculations. The optimised reaction conditions use 2-chlorothioxanthone under irradiation with 405 nm light which enables the synthesis of 30 substrates in moderate to excellent yields (40–98%), mostly as 2 separable diastereomers (generally 1.5:1 dr).
dc.identifier.apacitationOddy, M. J. (2024). <i>New explorations in visible-light mediated energy and single electron transfer for nitrogen heterocycle synthesis</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Chemistry. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41221en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationOddy, Meghan Jessica. <i>"New explorations in visible-light mediated energy and single electron transfer for nitrogen heterocycle synthesis."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Chemistry, 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41221en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationOddy, M.J. 2024. New explorations in visible-light mediated energy and single electron transfer for nitrogen heterocycle synthesis. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Chemistry. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41221en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Oddy, Meghan Jessica AB - With the recent push toward green chemistry, photocatalysis has emerged as a powerful alternative for reactions that might otherwise need high temperatures, poor atom economy or harsh reactants to proceed. This thesis explores the use of visible-light mediated photocatalysis for the synthesis of biologically important nitrogen containing heterocycles, investigating both single electron transfer and energy transfer methods. The results section of this thesis is presented in three chapters, each focusing on a different ring size, namely 4, 5 and 6 membered nitrogen heterocycles. Chapter two explores the use of photocatalysis to enable stereoselective access to 3,3-disubstitued oxindoles via newly developed N-acyl chiral auxiliaries, serving as chiral C1 radical synthons. These acyl radicals are generated under visible-light mediated single electron transfer to N-hydroxyphthalimido esters, which then undergo a radical addition–cyclisation sequence with N-phenyl acrylamides. A model 3,3-disubstitued oxindole is isolated as separable diastereomers in 81% yield with 2.2:1 dr. This advanced intermediate could be telescoped toward the formal synthesis of the natural cyclotryptamine alkaloid, physovenine. Chapter three describes an efficient thioxanthone-catalysed triplet energy transfer process for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-ones from N-acrylamides. This work features a rare example of a metal-free formal C(sp2)–H/C(sp3)–H arylation mediated by visible-light. Using 450 nm light with 2 chlorothioxanthone in 2,2,2-TFE:CHCl3, a selection of 23 substituted 3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-ones are isolated in moderate to excellent yields (16–97%). The reaction is amenable to gram-scale synthesis, and the 3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-ones obtained are easily oxidized to the corresponding quinolin-2-ones, ultimately producing facile access to two privileged bioactive scaffolds. The reaction mechanisms presented are supported by Stern-Volmer plots as well as deuterium labelling studies. Finally, chapter four explores the synthesis of 2-azetidinones (β-lactams) from simple acrylamide starting materials by visible-light-mediated energy transfer catalysis. The reaction features a C(sp3)−H functionalisation via a variation of the Norrish–Yang photocyclisation involving a rare carbon-to-carbon 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer. The proposed mechanism is supported by deuterium labelling and DFT calculations. The optimised reaction conditions use 2-chlorothioxanthone under irradiation with 405 nm light which enables the synthesis of 30 substrates in moderate to excellent yields (40–98%), mostly as 2 separable diastereomers (generally 1.5:1 dr). DA - 2024 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - chemistry LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2024 T1 - New explorations in visible-light mediated energy and single electron transfer for nitrogen heterocycle synthesis TI - New explorations in visible-light mediated energy and single electron transfer for nitrogen heterocycle synthesis UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41221 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41221
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationOddy MJ. New explorations in visible-light mediated energy and single electron transfer for nitrogen heterocycle synthesis. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Chemistry, 2024 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41221en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Chemistry
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectchemistry
dc.titleNew explorations in visible-light mediated energy and single electron transfer for nitrogen heterocycle synthesis
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoral
dc.type.qualificationlevelPhD
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_sci_2024_oddy meghan jessica.pdf
Size:
6.73 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.72 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Collections