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The α-tertiary amine-a nitrogen atom with an α-carbon bearing three C-C bonds-is a motif that is widely prevalent in pharmaceutical materials and natural products. As a result of the fully substituted α-centre, compounds bearing this fragment have a high degree of structural complexity. This increased topological complexity has the result that α-tertiary amines often display physiochemical properties that make them ideal candidates for lead generation in medicinal chemistry campaigns. The importance of this structure is further underscored by the wide variety of chemistries that have been developed for the synthesis of compounds containing it. Despite the many excellent chemistries that have been reported, there are few that are modular, mild, and multicomponent in nature. As such, there remains a need to develop synthetic methodologies which rapidly deliver materials containing the α-tertiary amine motif. This thesis describes the development of two distinct, multicomponent approaches for the rapid assembly of these important materials from relatively simple precursors; both methods are made possible by the action of visible light and rely on imines as key intermediates. Following an introduction to polar, radical, and molecular rearrangement methodologies that generate α-tertiary amine derivatives, Chapter 4 describes the development of a synthetic methodology which delivers a highly important class of α-tertiary amine derivatives: α,α-dialkyl-amino acids. Facilitated by the action of visible light in combination with a silane reductant, this approach delivers a structurally and functionally rich range of α-tertiary amino acid derivatives from simple, readily available starting materials: primary amines, α-ketoesters and alkyl iodides. Chapter 5 describes the results of investigations into a visible-light-mediated protocol for the synthesis of all-alkyl α-tertiary amine derivatives; three simple components were coupled, furnishing functionally and structurally rich higher order amines containing a α-trialkyl α-tertiary amine motif. Irradiation with visible light and the action of a highly reducing photocatalyst facilitated a challenging reduction of an in situ formed dialkylimine delivering the corresponding α-amino radical, which was engaged with a range of olefin acceptors.

This thesis describes the application of flow chemistry to discovery and development of medicinal compound synthesis and new chemical methodologies respectively. It is divided into three distinct sections. The first section addresses a brief introduction to flow chemistry, highlighting the advantages and challenges that have been faced in the past and present and also the outlook to the future. The second section reports the integration of machine-assisted methods with batch processes to produce two medicinal compounds, a precursor to the sacubitril and OZ439 respectively. In the respect to the precursor to sacubritil, a flow-batch integrated synthesis is developed to provide the desired product in 54% yield over 7 steps from commercially available 4-iodophenyl. In particular, a tube-in-tube gas flow reactor was employed in three gas-liquid reactions without the need for installing a costly highpressure autoclave. These gas-lquid reactions were an ethylene Heck coupling reaction, an anti-Markovnikov Wacker oxidation and a rhodium-catalysed stereoselective hydrogenation respectively. In addition, a diastereoselective Reformatsky-type carbethoxyallylation using zinc metal was also highlighted in this synthesis to install an important stereocentre. A new antimalarial agent, OZ439 containing a trioxolane unit as the main structural feature, has the unique property of providing a single-dose cure for malaria in humans and has recently completed phase IIb trials. A machine-enabled process for the preparation of OZ439 was developed in 33% overall yield over 5 steps without the need of column chromatography purification. This preparation features a selective continuous hydrogrenation, Griesbaum ozonlysis and a Zn-catalysed amide reduction in the present of triethoxylsilane. The third section contains the development of two new methodologies of diazo compounds with organoboron compounds. The first methodology involves an in situ generation of transient allylic boronic species by reacting TMSCHN2 and E-vinyl boronic acids in flow, followed by subsequent trapping with a range of aldehydes (15 examples, 55-97% yield) and on a large scale (10 mmol) to provide homoallylic alcohols with high diastereoselectivity (>20:1 dr confirmed by 1H NMR). This multicomponent metal-free reaction could also be applied under batch conditions (20 further examples, 60-82% yield). The second methodology involves the preparation of an organodimetallic compound, α-trimethylsilyl benzylboronic acid pinacol esters, by reacting TMSCHN2 and phenylboronic anhydrides (21 examples, 60-91% yield), and the development of their applications as bifunctional building blocks to complex structures.

The patellazoles are a family of marine polyketide natural products first isolated from Lissoclinum patella in 1988 by both the Moore and Ireland groups. They exhibit significant cytotoxicity against the HCT 116 human colon tumour cells. To date however, their full 3D stereostructure have yet to be elucidated, which has hindered their development as potential drugs, and hampered full investigation into their biological mechanism of action and has deterred total synthesis efforts. This thesis describes synthetic efforts towards Patellazole B, which exhibits the highest potency of the three main congeners. To fully elucidate the structure and renew interest in the patellazoles as anticancer compounds, we have developed a flexible and modular synthesis that aims to define the unknown stereocentres within the pertinent region and allow for rapid fragment union. Compound 36 has been chosen as an initial target for NMR comparison studies. The synthesis of all eight diastereomers of this macrocycle should aid determination of the four unknown stereocentres. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of the C1–C12 fragment, focusing on the configuring of the C5 methyl stereocentre and the construction of the C7-C10 stereotetrad via a boron-mediated anti aldol with an in-situ reduction. In the third chapter, the synthesis of the C13-C19 fragment is outlined. A boron-mediated glycolate aldol has been used to install the C16-C17 anti stereochemistry and a substrate-controlled reduction at C15 delivered the hydroxyl with high diastereoselectivity. Studies into the C¬17¬ methylation are also described. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis of one possible diastereomer of the C20-C25 fragment, as a template for the preparation of the other 7 possible diastereomers. The route therefore employs only catalyst based control methods to install the three stereocentres, utilising a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and Evans aldol to construct the stereotriad. The 22R, 23S, 24S diastereomer has been initially chosen to investigate the later chemistry. Chapter 5 contains discussion of the ongoing work investigating fragment union and formation of the macrocycle. A Heck coupling reaction has been employed to construct the C19-C20 bond and a Suzuki coupling reaction has been developed to facilitate the C12-C13 bond formation. These two cross couplings have delivered the C1 - C25 fragment, 360, the final compound reported in this thesis, which is three steps away from the completed macrocycle and six from compound 36. The experimental procedures and spectroscopic characterisation of the synthesised intermediates can be found in Chapter 6 and the Appendix.

Chiral amines represent a pervasive structural motif found in various natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and fine chemicals. Their preparation in single-enantiomer form continues to attract significant research attention and although many advances have been made in the area of synthetic organic chemistry to increase the scope of the routes to these moieties, there remains an ever-growing need of general strategies for the assembly of structurally-diverse amines which also conform to the efficiency and environmental requirements of modern manufacturing processes. This report investigates biocatalytic routes as a means for constructing chiral amine scaffolds, which offer a more environmentally benign approach when compared with traditional chemocatalysed processes. Probing the catalysts available in the biocatalytic toolbox of enzymes, several routes were examined in more detail. Imine reductases (IREDs) represent a recent addition to the toolbox, enzymes which by definition are able to reduce pre-formed imines to their corresponding amines with high selectivity. This report analyses the (R)-imine reductase [(R)-IRED] from Streptomyces sp. GF3587, one of the first imine reductases identified for its biocatalytic potential, in greater depth. The enzyme was found to catalyse the reduction of a broad range of cyclic imines while displaying high levels of activity and selectivity, thereby offering a direct route of access to chiral secondary and tertiary amines. Substrate kinetic parameters were established for the enzyme in order to understand its substrate preferences and the enzyme’s catalytic mechanism was probed through the generation of mutant (R)-IREDs. Owing to their operation under physiological conditions as well as the orthogonal nature of their reactions, it is possible to combine multiple enzyme reactions to enable cascades. This report examines a multi-enzyme reaction combining ω-transaminases (ATAs) with imine reductases, for the synthesis of chiral disubstituted piperidines from simple diketone substrates. The cascade was then taken a step further by the inclusion of the carboxylic acid reductase (CAR) enzyme, for the synthesis of the nitrogen-containing heterocycles morpholine and thiomorpholine from ketoacid compounds. Finally, the well-established deracemisation technique, employing a selective amine oxidase (AO) with either a non-selective chemical reducing agent or a biocatalytic reductant (IRED), was explored in more detail by encompassing new substrate motifs. As biocatalysis becomes more readily accepted as a general technique in the synthetic chemist’s repertoire, the concept of carrying out enzymatic reactions in constant flow was explored as a means for applying this methodology with increased production and decreased processing rates.

This thesis firstly describes a synthesis of the natural product taurospongin A, a potent DNA polymerase beta inhibitor. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation on olefin E-1.60 followed by selective deoxygenation at C(2) via Barton‒McCombie reaction delivers the desired C(1)–C(10) carboxylic acid core. Subsequent esterification of the C(1)–C(10) fragment with C(1′)–C(25′) fatty acid furnishes the natural product in 13.5% yield. The structure of an unnamed natural product 2.14 isolated in 1974 is proven to be misassigned by previous studies within the Robertson group. As described in this thesis, two proposed structures A and B are obtained via total synthesis in order to reveal the identity of the natural product. A synthesis of key intermediate spirocycles 2.148 and 2.158 with desired trans- diol moiety is described by a dihydroxylation reaction on an electron deficient gamma-keto unsaturated acid with subsequent spirocyclisation reaction. Finally, methodology for generating high-value synthetic intermediates by an asymmetric, one-pot enzymatic di/polycarbonyl reduction is described. The concept of such methodology is first proven by the synthesis of (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutanoate 3.20. This thesis then describes substrate scope studies and corresponding stereochemical proof to provide more information about this methodology.

This thesis explores new synthetic routes for the formation of CDE & EFG fragments of pectenotoxin-4. Chapter 1: Introduction and Previous Work: This chapter reviews the discovery and biological activities of members of the pectenotoxin family. Two previous total syntheses are discussed, and previous work regarding the synthesis of ABC, E and FG fragments within the group is introduced. Chapter 2: Synthesis of the E Ring Fragment of Pectenotoxin-4: The synthesis of the E ring fragment is discussed. Key reactions include Negishi coupling and osmium mediated oxidative cyclisation. Chapter 3: First Generation Strategy for the Synthesis of the D ring: A simple model towards the D ring core was completed using alkyne-epoxide opening strategy. The application on a more sophisticated system was tested. Chapter 4: Second Generation Strategy for the Synthesis of the D ring: Sonogashira coupling was successfully tested as key step to unite two coupling partners; and further functionalisation towards the D ring skeleton was studied. Chapter 5: Third Generation Strategy for the Synthesis of the D ring: The new strategy including a Lewis acid assisted coupling and mercury mediated hydration of alkyne sequence was completed on a simple model. The application on a more sophisticated system was tested. Chapter 6: Synthesis of EFG Fragment of Pectenotoxin-4: Key Julia-Kocienski olefination between E ring fragment and FG ring fragment was examined. The further functionalisation of the resulting coupling product towards EFG fragment was finished. Chapter 7: Experimental: Full experimental procedures and characterisation of compounds are reported.

Hypoxia (low physiological O2 levels) is a characteristic of solid tumours. It not only alters the chemical microenvironment of a tumour but initiates a number of mechanisms which enable cells to cope and thrive under these conditions, resulting in therapy-resistant and aggressive tumours. The replication stress induced by severe hypoxia activates a DNA damage response which involves the kinases ATR and Chk1. Moreover, periods of hypoxia are often followed by reoxygenation, which induces DNA damage. Chk1 inhibitors have been used to potentiate chemotherapy with cytotoxic agents and have recently been proposed as single agents in tumours with high levels of replication stress. However, inhibition of Chk1 also affects normal DNA replication, cell cycle progression and DNA repair. The herein presented study chose known inhibitors of Chk1 and, with methods of synthetic organic chemistry, modified them into agents to selectively target hypoxic cells. Three different Chk1 inhibitors were selected and bioreductive analogues synthesised which were evaluated in chemical, biochemical and cellular assays. We found a convenient route to access a precursor of the bioreductive 2-nitroimidazole group and established a three-step protocol for the testing of bioreductive drugs. This protocol allows us to determine whether a bioreductive drug undergoes reduction and prodrug activation. In addition, bioreductive Chk1 inhibitors were shown to induce DNA damage and cellular toxicity in a hypoxia-selective fashion. While reduction of the prodrugs occurred in all three cases, fragmentation was always the rate-limiting step. We propose that the use of bioreductive Chk1 inhibitors is a promising strategy to target the most therapy-resistant tumour fraction while sparing normal tissue.

Caged compounds are a class of photosensitive reagents used to stimulate cells with spatial control down to a sub-cellular level, and millisecond temporal control. They comprise of biologically important molecule which is modified with a photolabile protecting group. In the absence of light, caged compounds are physiologically silent but irradiation with light induces the release of biologically active species. Illumination under two-photon conditions is particularly advantageous as it enables restriction of the photolysis volume to ~1 fL and it provides deeper penetration into scattering samples. This thesis reports the development of new protecting groups for two-photon uncaging in neuroscience. Mechanistically, the deprotection in these novel groups is designed to operate via an intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) between the absorbing unit (electron-donor) and the release module (electron-acceptor). The modular design of these cages ensures separation of absorption and release steps, and allows each process to be tuned and optimized independently. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the two-photon absorption phenomenon and a historic overview of the uncaging technique. It also discusses recent advances in the development of two-photon sensitive probes used in neuroscience. Chapter 2 describes the exploration of molecular designs for novel protecting groups. A two-photon absorbing dye (electron-donor; fluorene dye) and three different release units (electron-acceptors; nitrobenzyl, pyridinium and phenacyl) were identified as suitable building blocks for the current project. Efficiency of the intramolecular electron transfer between chosen units was evaluated using model dyads which constitute covalently linked electron-donor and acceptor species. Chapter 3 is devoted to the synthesis and photophysical evaluation of nitrobenzyl-based protecting group. Chapter 4 describes the preparation of pyridinium-derived protecting group and demonstrates PeT-mediated release of tryptophan and GABA under one- and two-photon excitation. Hydrolytic instability of pyridinium esters is highlighted. Chapter 5 reports the synthesis, hydrolytic stability and one-photon uncaging efficiency of phenacyl-based derivatives. Chapter 6 discusses properties of developed caged compounds and compares them with other compounds reported in literature. It contains overall conclusions and outlook for the current project. Chapter 7 details the experimental procedures and the characterization of compounds synthesized during this work.

This work describes developments in new azetidine and azetine chemistry; specifically, methods developed for the introduction of functionality α- to nitrogen in both ring systems, with additionally in situ formation of the latter system, from azetidine substrates. Chapter 1 discusses the growing importance of azetidines, and the current methods available for making substituted azetidines by ring formation. Further discussion comprises of current sp3 C–H activation approaches α- to nitrogen in heterocyclic compounds as potential methods for sp3 C–H activation on azetidines to give substituted azetidines. Previous work by the Hodgson group in this area is detailed. Chapter 2 describes the advance made towards 2,3-disubstituted azetidines using the thiopivaloyl protecting/activating group, where the latter plays a key role. Optimisation, scope, selectivity and mechanistic insight into the α-deprotonation–electrophile trapping of a 3-hydroxy azetidine system is discussed, which successfully gives access to a range of 3-hydroxy-2-substituted azetidines. Preliminary investigations with 3-alkyl-2-substituted azetidines are also described. Chapter 3 describes the development of a straightforward protocol to make 2-substituted-2- azetines, a rarely studied and difficult to access 4-membered azacycle subclass, from readily accessible azetidine starting materials using α-deprotonation–in situ elimination followed by further α-lithiation–electrophile trapping. Extension of this methodology by transmetallation from the intermediate organolithium to the organocuprate, resulting in greater electrophile scope, is also described.

The aim of this D.Phil was to develop a range of cyclisation cascades, which initially form a reactive iminium intermediates that can then be attacked by a pendant nucleophile resulting in novel polycyclic structures. This concept has been applied to the development of three methodologies and has resulted in the discovery of new reactivity as well as the synthesis of a wide range of interesting novel structures Chapter 1: Enantioselective chiral-BINOL-phosphoric acid catalysed reaction cascade A highly enantioselective hydroamination / N-sulfonyliminium cyclisation cascade using a combination of Au(I) and chiral phosphoric acid catalysts has been developed. Proceeding by an initial 5-exo-dig hydroamination and a subsequent phosphoric acid catalysed Pictet- Spengler cyclisation, the reaction provides access to complex sulfonamide scaffolds in excellent yields and with high levels of enantiocontrol. The scope can be extended to lactam derivatives, with excellent yields and enantiomeric excesses of up to 93% ee. Chapter 2: Iridium catalysed nitro-Mannich cyclisation A new chemoselective reductive nitro-Mannich cyclisation reaction sequence of nitroalkyltethered lactams has been developed. An initial rapid and chemoselective iridium(I) catalysed reduction of lactams to the corresponding enamine is subsequently followed by intra molecular nitro-Mannich cyclisation. This methodology provides direct access to important alkaloid, natural product-like structures in yields up to 81% and in diastereoselectivities that are typically good to excellent. An in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanism has been gained through NMR studies and characterisation of reaction intermediates. The new methodology has been applied to the total synthesis of (±)-epi-epiquinamide in 4 steps. Chapter 3: Iridium catalysed reductive interrupted Pictet-Spengler cyclisation A novel reductive interrupted Pictet-Spengler cyclisation reaction cascade has been created. An iridium(I) catalyzed partial reduction of lactams/amides to the corresponding iminium is subsequently trapped by a pendant indole nucleophile. Interruption of the Pictet-Spengler reaction by indolium reduction provides a wide range of novel spirocyclic indoline moieties in excellent yield and diastereoselectivity.

Using three complementary approaches, this work sought to tackle the widespread problem of antibiotic resistance. To circumvent the resistance mechanisms developed by bacteria, it is necessary to establish drug candidates that act on novel therapeutic targets, such as the ion channels used by bacteria to modulate homeostasis. Examples include the potassium efflux channel, Kef, and the mechanosensitive channel of small conductance, MscS, which are not found in humans. How these targets function must be well understood before drug candidates can be developed, as such, their identification and investigation is often accompanied by the evolution of the analytical techniques used to study them. Membrane protein mass spectrometry is one technique showing potential in the study of ion channels. However, spectra can be clouded by the detergents used to solubilise ion channels from their native membranes. Undertaken herein was the synthesis of some fluorescent glycolipid detergents, which it was hypothesised could be encouraged to dissociate from ion channels via laser-induced excitation within the gas phase of a mass spectrometer, thereby improving the clarity with which spectra can be obtained. For Kef, an unconfirmed mechanism of action had previously been proposed. To explore the suggestion that sterically-demanding central residues are important for channel activation, solid phase peptide synthesis was used to isolate three tripeptide analogues of N-ethylsuccinimido glutathione, a known activator with a high affinity for Kef. A competition fluorescence assay suggested these tripeptides bound to Kef with an affinity lower than predicted, allowing the conclusion that a more detailed assessment of the steric bulk required for activation was necessary before a mechanism of action could be confirmed. Lysophosphatidylcholine has been shown to activate MscS, although it is not known how. Affinity chromatography between MscS and lysophosphatidylcholine was proposed as a means by which specific binding interactions could be investigated. For this technique an amino-derivative of lysophosphatidylcholine was necessary and its challenging synthesis is also detailed herein.

This thesis explores the capacity of sterically and electronically unsaturated boranes to bind substrates of biological and environmental interest, and transduce such binding events into a photo-physical and/or electrochemical response, hence reporting the presence of these substrates. Chapter three details the synthesis of a range of novel ferrocenyl boranes featuring either a proximal hydrogen-bond donor or a second Lewis acidic centre. These novel boranes were shown to be competent at binding both cyanide and fluoride anions, with the role played by a proximal hydrogen-bond donor or a second Lewis acidic centre in anion binding investigated by both NMR and crystallographic studies. Chapter four reports the synthesis of novel pyridinyl and related boronic esters, as well as unexpected mixed alkenyl/aryl boranes. The capacity of both types of system to bind fluoride or cyanide anions in solution was investigated by UV-Vis and NMR studies. The photo-physical responses to these anions were also probed, leading to the establishment of both switch-on and switch-off fluorescent responses. Chapter five extends the knowledge derived from selective anion receptor design and combines this with recent developments in the field of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) to activate, bind and report the presence of nitrous oxide (N2O) molecule. Thus, the syntheses of novel, highly Lewis acidic ferrocenyl boranes that incorporate a high degree of steric loading around the boron centre are reported. The electrochemical and photo-physical response of an FLP system to the presence of N2O was investigated leading to the development of a novel N2O reporting system.

The aim of this project was to utilize chiral cation-directed catalysis in the asymmetric synthesis of novel hererocycles. This goal was initially realized by the synthesis of azaindolines in high yields and enantioselectivities (Chapter 2). Extension of this methodology to substrates bearing two stereogenic centres was successful, although control over both diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity in this process was modest. Finally the synthesis of heterocycles utilizing cation-directed rearrangement processes was examined, with proof of concept obtained for a novel asymmetric cyclization to form xanthenes.

Chapter 1. Introduction Scientific background on the development of homogeneous palladium-catalysed cross coupling reactions, focusing on the α-arylation reaction of enolates and its application to the synthesis of heteroaromatic compounds. The classical syntheses of isoquinolines are discussed, followed by an account of modern methods for their synthesis, including the recent α-arylation-based methodology developed by the Donohoe group. Chapter 2. Results and Discussion 2.1 Studies towards the development of a palladium-catalysed, C–H activation-based α arylation reaction of ketones, resulting in a C–H bromination/α-arylation sequence for the synthesis of isoquinolines and isoquinoline N-oxides. 2.2 The one-pot, four component coupling of a ketone, an acetal protected ortho-bromobenzaldehyde or ketone, an electrophile, and an ammonia source is described. This protocol, which ultimately provides C4 functionalised isoquinolines, is later extended to a novel α,α heterodiarylation protocol to furnish C4-aryl isoquinolines. 2.3 It is shown that the synthesis of 3 aminoisoquinolines can be achieved via the α arylation of nitriles. tert-Butyl cyanoacetate can act as a substitute for primary alkyl nitriles, with sequential α-arylation, in situ functionalisation, decarboxylation and cyclisation reactions provide C4 functionalised 3 aminoisoquinolines. 2.4 The synthetic utility of the α arylation based methodology for isoquinoline synthesis is exemplified by the total synthesis of the alkaloid berberine in 68% yield over five steps. This is followed by syntheses of pseudocoptisine, palmatine, dehydrocorydaline, and an unnatural fluorine containing analogue, in yields of 46%, 73%, 60% and 37%, respectively. 2.5 Finally, preliminary investigations demonstrate the utility of palladium-catalysed enolate arylation in the synthesis of β-carbolines.

The Heck reaction has become a fundamental reaction for synthetic organic chemists over the last half century and is utilised heavily in the fine chemical industry and for natural product synthesis. This thesis describes some of the applications of the Heck reaction to modern day organic synthesis. Introduction: This section presents an overview of the Heck reaction starting from its conception during the late 1960s to present day understanding. A variety of ligand classes are described along with commonly accepted catalytic cycles for their activity during the reaction. Results and Discussion: In the first part of the thesis, the use of a cross-metathesis/Heck reaction protocol to synthesise a range of 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyridines is described. Attempts were made to expand the scope of the methodology by employing vinyl Weinreb amides, but this proved unsuccessful for the synthesis of pyridines. Nevertheless, the Heck reaction on vinyl Weinreb amides worked efficiently and the scope of this arylation was explored. Following on, the functionalisation of the Weinreb amide products was studied to generate a range of enone products, some of which would be difficult to synthesise via direct Heck reaction on the respective precursor enone. In the second part of the thesis, previous syntheses of inthomycin B and inthomycin C are described. The synthesis of inthomycin B and inthomycin C were then attempted using an unprecedented Mukaiyama aldol/cross-metathesis based approach to generate the triene core of both natural products.

Bromodomains bind to acetylated lysine residues 1 to mediate a wide range of biological processes, including the assembly of transcriptional machinery at modified histones. This thesis describes the design of small molecule inhibitors of bromodomains, with particular focus on the bromodomain of CREBBP. A fragment based approach was employed to investigate bicyclic amides as acetyl lysine mimics. Initially the benzoxazinone scaffold (BNZ) 2 was shown to be a novel, ligand efficient bromodomain inhibitor. Structure based elaboration of the BNZ scaffold was employed to direct substitutions towards the region of CREBBP with greatest variability compared to other bromodomains. Ultimately, the compounds in this series were limited to micromolar affinity for CREBBP, but provided useful structure activity relationships. Subsequently the dihydroquinoxalinone scaffold (DHQN) 3 was also shown to be a novel acetyl lysine mimic. Attachment of the optimum side group identified in the BNZ series led to the discovery of the first sub micromolar inhibitor of CREBBP. A co crystal structure with CREBBP revealed that the side group of this compound bound in a newly identified induced fit pocket, mediated by a cation π interaction. A combination of structural, functional and computational studies confirmed that the cation π interaction contributed significantly towards the binding affinity of these ligands. Further work to elaborate the DHQN core, or develop an alternative acetyl lysine mimic into a CREBBP inhibitor, did not lead to an improvement. However, the optimum compound 4 was shown to displace CREBBP from chromatin in a cell based assay. Overall, cyclic amide based fragments were developed as CREBBP inhibitors, providing some of the first bromodomain ligands with nanomolar affinity outside of the BET family. In the process, key structural information about binding of ligands to CREBBP was revealed. Compound 4 provides a tool with which to study the biological implications of aberrant CREBBP activity and to investigate the therapeutic potential of bromodomain inhibition.

As depicted in Chapter I, 2-oxoglutarate- (2OG) dependent oxygenases are ubiquitous in living systems and display a wide range of cellular functions, spanning metabolism, transcription, and translation. Although functionally diverse, the 2OG oxygenases share a high degree of structural similarities between their catalytic sites. From a medicinal chemistry point of view, the combination of biological diversity and structural similarity presents a rather challenging task for the development of selective small molecules for functional studies in vivo. The non-selective metal chelator 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ) was used as a template for the generation of tool compound I for the KDM4 subfamily of histone demethylases via application of the Betti reaction. Structural analogue II was used as the corresponding negative control (Figure A). These compounds were characterised in vitro against a range of 2OG oxygenases and subsequently used for studies in cells. I displays selectivity for KDM4 and increases the level of the H3K9me3 histone mark in cells. It has an effect on the post-translational modification pattern of histone H3, but not other histones, and reduces the viability of lung cancer cells, but not normal lung cells, derived from the same patient. I also stabilises hypoxia-inducable factor HIF in cells via a mechanism which seems to be independent from prolyl hydroxylase inhibition. This work is described in Chapters II and III. The chemical biology research in epigenetics is complemented by qualitative analysis conducted in the social sciences at Said Business School. With a global view on how innovation occurs and may actively be fostered, Chapter IV focuses on the potential of epigenetics in drug discovery and how this process may actively be promoted within the framework of open innovation. Areas of focus include considerations of incremental and disruptive technology; how to claim, demarcate, and control the market; how knowledge brokering occurs; and insights about process, management, organisation, and culture of open innovation. In contrast to the open-skies approach adopted for the development of a tool compound in Chapters II and III, a focused-library approach was taken for the generation of a tool compound for the OGFOD1 ribosomal prolyl hydroxylase. The development of a suitable in vitro activity assay for OGFOD1 in Chapter V enabled the development of lead compound III in Chapter VI. III is selective for OGFOD1 against the structurally closely related prolyl hydroxylase PHD2.

This thesis describes the development of robust methodology to access cyclic alkenylsiloxanes, and their subsequent application in Hiyama-Denmark cross couplings. An early chapter shows the identification of Lindlar reduction conditions capable of generating cyclic alkenylsiloxanes from alkynylsiloxanes in high yields. The use of such species in Hiyama-Denmark cross coupling is then examined, with particular emphasis on the development of fluoride-free conditions, previously unreported for this class of organosilane. A ring-size dependent orthogonality is revealed, where 5-membered cyclic alkenylsiloxanes cross couple under basic conditions, while 6-membered analogues are inert. The origins of this effect are investigated experimentally and theoretically, leading to the proposal of detailed mechanisms for coupling. In the final chapter, the methodology that has been developed is applied to total synthesis. The great potential of the orthogonality uncovered is demonstrated with the highly convergent construction of anti-inflammatory natural product resolvin D3 by sequential, one-pot, orthogonal cross couplings.

Bifunctional iminophosphoranes, containing a triaryl-substituted iminophosphorane and bis(3,5- trifluoromethyl)phenyl thiourea on a single enantiomer scaffold are novel asymmetric superbase organocatalysts reported by the Dixon group in 2014. This thesis describes our efforts to expand their scope and utility in a variety of challenging chemical transformations. Chapter 2 describes the development and application of immobilised bifunctional iminophosphorane organocatalysts. We have successfully immobilised bifunctional iminophosphoranes on a crosslinked polystyrene support and applied this sold-supported catalyst to three challenging asymmetric reactions; namely the nitro-Mannich reaction of phosphinoyl ketimines and the conjugate addition of alkylmalonates and N,N-dimethyl β-keto amides to nitrostyrene. Very good yields, enantio- and diasteroselectivities were obtained in all cases. We have also demonstrated their use in a range of conjugate additions of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes, which suffered from very slow reaction rates under tertiary amine-based bifunctional catalysis. In all cases, the immobilised bifunctional iminophosphoranes performed very well in comparison to their homogeneous counterparts. We have also demonstrated catalyst recycling over 10 cycles and application in a continuous flow system with a productivity of 7.20 mmol producth-1gcatalyst-1. to the ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of cyclic esters. We have demonstrated the performance of bifunctional iminophosphorane organocatalysts in the ROP of L-lactide (LA), δ-valerolactone (VL) and ε-caprolactone (CL). The polymerisation of LA and VL proceeded rapidly and was well controlled, while only short lengths (> 100 DP) of poly(CL) could be prepared in a controlled fashion due to hypothesised competing initiation from the catalyst. We have shown that the polymerisation of LA using our catalyst may be considered a living polymerisation. Di-block co-polymers could also be successfully prepared via sequential monomer addition or through the use of macroinitiators. We then investigated the roles of the iminophosphorane and the thiourea component of the catalyst.

Dendritic cells (DC) are one of the major antigen presenting cells (APC) of the body. They, by capture of antigen and cross-presentation of these antigens, activate dormant T-cells and co-activate B-cells. As such they regulate the immune system toward either a more humoral type immune response or a more cellular type immune response. These properties have made them very studied over the past decade and many works have focus on the development of vaccine or therapeutic using DCs as a target. However, most of these actual studies have been done by injection of in vitro pre-activated DCs. The major drawback of this technique is the use of non-natural and non individual specific DCs (monocytes derived DCs and/or stem cells DCs). That is why therapeutic carrier targeting specifically DCs has to be developed. To achieve this goal, specific molecules present at the surface of DCs and involved in the activation of the immune system has to be targeted. Among them, DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Non-integrin CD209 (DC-SIGN) is very specifically expressed only on one subset of DCs called interstitial DCs. This lectin has been proven to be one of the first contacts of the DCs with T-cells and to induce one major interaction for cells proliferation of dormant T-cells. The goal of the project is to design a probe that can be used in vivo and post-mortem to target DCs via DC-SIGN. Therefore, we can use these particles as a proof of concept in vivo and in vitro, record the immune response obtained with them in vivo and in vitro and design probes that can be used to induce specific immune response for future therapy development. Lewis sugars have been shown to be quite specific to DC-SIGN. Their syntheses have been carried out in our lab with a cyanomethylthio linker at their anomeric position. This linker, once activated as a 2-imino-2-methoxyethyl moiety, has permitted the attachment of the oligosaccharides at the surface of dextran-coated iron oxide MRI nanoparticle. These particles have been chosen for their powerful properties and the advantage of the technique they are used for. Indeed, as particles their sizes mimic pathogens and DCs would interact with them, as they will with pathogen. Moreover, many copies of each oligosaccharide could be attached at their surface enhancing the interaction of the particles with the targeted lectin via a multivalent effect. As a technique, MRI has the advantage to be recorded over a long period of time (compare to 18F PET for example), with a relatively low signal/noise ratio (compare to fluorescence techniques) and without being harmful. FITC fluorescent Lewis X nanoparticles have been actually design and characterised (size by DLS, number of sugar by particles by ICP or fluorescamine fluorescence assay and binding affinity by ELISA with DC-SIGN-Fc). They have been first tested in vitro with models cells (Raji and monocytes derived DCs) for specific uptake assays, where they exhibit specific uptake and internalisation. Lewis-x nanoparticles have also been tested in vivo in a rat model and have been shown to be retained in Lymph nodes compared to control particles. Post mortem analysis appears to demonstrate that these particles were internalised by rat DCs and transported in the centre of the lymph node known as the T-cell region. Finally, cytokines and CD86 concentration measurement have shown that upon internalisation of the nanoparticles, DC maturated. In addition, an antigenic OVA peptide epitope was attached to the surface of the nanoparticles for future T-cell proliferation experiments. It will allow the determination of the immune response expected. In summary, we have developed an immunogenic MRI-active probe that can target specifically DC-SIGN via the interaction with Lewis antigens present at the surface of the probe and trigger DC maturation.

Iminosugars are carbohydrate mimics, where the endocyclic ring oxygen has been replaced by nitrogen. This substitution affords these compounds their inhibitory activity towards sugar-processing enzymes (glycosidases) and, as a consequence, their chemotherapeutic potential in the treatment of a broad range of diseases. Several iminosugars are currently in clinical trials or have entered the market as approved drugs. This has consequently led to increasing levels of research into their synthesis and application, both in terms of the development of efficient methodology to access naturally occurring examples, and also to elaborate novel scaffolds. The presence of multiple chiral centres within iminosugars provides a considerable challenge in accessing these targets by asymmetric means, whereas carbohydrates pose a more attractive chiral pool. As such the majority of literature methods have employed this latter method. The focus of the thesis is on the elaboration of robust methodologies to access both naturally occurring and novel iminosugars, and their precursors, from readily available carbohydrate starting materials. Chapter 1 presents an introduction to iminosugars, including an overview of glycosidase inhibition by this class of sugar-mimic, their historical medical usage and the basis for their potential employment in treating diabetes, lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) and cancer. This chapter also gives a general review of the methods employed in the literature for the assembly of iminosugar scaffolds. Chapter 2 is concerned with the synthesis of iminosugars from the carbohydrate glucuronolactone. This versatile chiron has previously allowed for access to many homochiral targets, and in this thesis is used to access DGJNAc on a gram-scale. This iminosugar has been shown to be a potent α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase inhibitor and is potentially extremely valuable in the treatment of late-stage cancer. Both enantiomers of glucuronolactone are also utilised in the divergent synthesis of every stereoisomer of two classes of five-membered iminosugars; the pyrrolidines (including DMDP), and the proline amides. These compounds demonstrate remarkable biological activity against a panel of glycosidases and hexosaminidases, allowing for the analysis of the structure-activity relationship between these compounds and the target enzymes. Chapter 3 describes the development of a novel, one-pot methodology - a tandem Strecker reaction and iminocyclisation - for the assembly of trihydroxy piperidine α-iminonitriles from a range of unbranched and branched pentose monosaccharides. These piperidine α-iminonitriles are precursors to pipecolic acids which may also be potentially valuable targets in the treatment of cancer.

Imaging membrane potential is a promising technique in the elucidation of the interactions of large networks of neurons. The membrane potential in a neuron varies as an action potential, the basic electrical signal of neuronal communication, travels along the length of the cell. Voltage sensitive dyes play a key role by providing an optical readout of the electric field generated across a neuron membrane by the action potential. However, none of the dyes reviewed in Chapter 1 generate sufficient signal change with changes in membrane potential; this sensitivity problem limits the ability of the imaging membrane potential technique to allow the high spatial and temporal resolution necessary for neuronal networks to be better understood. This thesis features two avenues of research that are expected to result in the necessary enhancements to voltage sensitive dyes to improve the signal change. The first avenue is based on the effect of an electric field upon the non-linear optical properties of a porphyrin macromolecule. The encouraging field sensitivity of a previous porphyrin monomer voltage sensor inspired an investigation which identified optimisations to enhance the voltage sensitivity (Chapter 2). The design, synthesis and initial characterisation of optimised porphyrin voltage sensors is detailed in Chapter 3. The second avenue is based on the effect of an electric field upon the rate of intermolecular electron transfer. In a suitably designed dye, the competition between electron transfer and fluorescence, following excitation by incoming light, allows the fluorescence intensity to act as an optical indicator of the electron transfer rate. New dyes were rationally designed and synthesised, as this effect had not been applied to voltage sensitive imaging before the research detailed in Chapter 4. The challenging purification of the new amphiphilic dyes synthesised also inspired research into a novel testing method which does not require amphiphilic dyes (Chapter 5).

The aim of the work described in this thesis was to explore the synthesis of glycosidase inhibitors and to evaluate their potential as anti-cancer agents. Glycosidases catalyze the fission of glycosidic bonds and are involved in vital biological functions. With regard to their potential for anti-cancer therapy, two glycosidases were identified: α-N-acetyl-galactosaminidase and β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase. The former has been implicated in causing immunosuppression in advanced cancer patients by negating the effect of the macrophage activating factor (MAF), while the latter is secreted by invading cancer cells and hence associated with metastasis formation. The synthetic focus was on generating piperidine and azetidine iminosugars, carbohydrate mimetics with their endocylic oxygen replaced by nitrogen. Their structural similarity to carbohydrates make iminosugars excellent inhibitors of glycosidases. Following synthesis of a pipecolic amide, its previously reported potent β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase inhibition was confirmed. This data, along with inhibition profiles of several pyrrolidines, allowed the generation of a molecular model for predicting activity of β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase inhibitors. The model was used to select azetidines in the D/L-ribo and D-lyxo configuration as suitable candidates to be explored in novel chemical space, leading to the first synthesis of a fully unprotected 3-hydroxy-2-carboxy-azetidine. The potent α-N-acetyl-galactosamindase inhibitor 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxy-D-galacto-nojirimycin (DGJNAc) was successfully derivatised via N-alkylation. Important structural discoveries with regard to glycosylation of vitamin D3-binding protein, the precursor of MAF, were made using MALDI mass-spectrometry. By comparing the enzymatic and cellular inhibition of N-alkylated derivatives of DGJNAc and a pyrrolidine the following generalization on iminosugar biodistribution was found: N-butylation promotes uptake into the cell/organelles, while hydrophilic side-chains restrict cellular access. An in vitro assay evaluating cancer cell invasion was devised and β-N-acetyl-hexoamindase inhibitors were shown to retard cell migration, including with the highly metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Additive effects where found when the iminosugar was combined with a protease inhibitor, suggesting potential for future combination therapy.

This thesis describes the development of nitro-Mannich/hydroamination cascade reactions for the synthesis of N-heterocycles, which are important motifs found in a variety of biologically active natural products and pharmaceuticals, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor®). Chapter 2 outlines the development of an efficient synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted pyrroles using a nitro-Mannich/hydroamination cascade. Starting from easily prepared N-protected imines and nitroalkyne substrates, a compatible combination of KOtBu (10 mol%) and AuCl3 (5 mol%) was used to afford the desired pyrrole products, after an alkene isomerisation/HNO2 elimination reaction sequence. Chapter 3 describes the extension of this methodology to the diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine derivatives using a nitroalkyne substrate with an extended carbon chain. The sequential addition of a bifunctional Brønsted base/H-bond donor organocatalyst and a gold complex was found to facilitate the desired cascade reaction affording substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine products. We then established that highly substituted pyrrolidine compounds could be prepared by replacing the nitroalkyne substrate with a nitroallene substrate (Chapter 4). The combination of KOtBu (5 mol%) and a gold catalyst derived from Au(PPh3)Cl (10 mol%) and AgSbF6 (20 mol%) was found to give an efficient diastereoselective synthesis of pyrrolidine derivatives after an additional nitro group epimerisation step. In addition, the nitro-Mannich/hydroamination cascade using nitroallene substrates was developed into an enantioselective variant using the previously employed bifunctional Brønsted base/H-bond donor organocatalyst. This afforded enantioenriched pyrrolidine derivatives.

Chapter 1 Provides an overview of drug discovery with particular emphasis on library selection and hit identification methods using virtual based approaches. Chapter 2 Gives an outline of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling pathway and literature BMP pathway modulators. The association between the regulation of BMP pathway and cardiomyogenesis is also described. Chapter 3 Describes the use of ligand based virtual screening to discover small molecule activators of the BMP signalling pathway. A robust cell based BMP responsive gene activity reporter assay was developed to test the libraries of small molecules selected. Hit molecules from the screen were synthesised to validate activity. It was found that a group of known histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors displayed most promising activity. These were evaluated in a secondary assay measuring the expression of two BMP pathway regulated genes, hepcidin and Id1, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). 188 was discovered to increase expression of both BMP-responsive genes. Chapter 4 Provides an overview of existing cannabinoid receptor (CBR) modulating molecules and their connection to progression of atherosclerosis. Chapter 5 Outlines the identification and optimisation of selective small molecule agonists acting at the cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R). Ligand based virtual screen was undertaken and promising hits were synthesised to allow structure activity relationship (SAR) to be developed around the hit molecule providing further information of the functional groups tolerated at the active site. Subsequent studies led to the investigation and optimisation of physicochemical properties around 236 leading to the development of a suitable compound for in vivo testing. Finally, a CB2R selective compound with favourable physicochemical properties was evaluated in vivo in a murine inflammation model and displayed reduced recruitment of monocytes to the site of inflammation.

This work describes the design and synthesis of a set of four organic molecules that are intended to hydrogen-bond to each other in a pairwise manner. The four hydrogen-bonding units, termed ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’, when placed in solution together, are designed so that A binds only to B, and C binds only to D. Each unit does not bind to itself, nor to either of the other two units to which binding is not intended. For example, A binds to B, but not to A, C, or D. Each unit contains an array of four hydrogen-bonds for strong binding to its partner, is designed to be as rigid as possible, as non-tautomeric as possible, and utilises a staggered non-symmetrical architecture. Of the four intended compounds, three were successfully synthesised (A, B and D). Units B and D were soluble in CDCl3, but Unit A was not. Therefore, the design and synthesis of Unit A was amended, and two variants of Unit A that are both soluble in CDCl3 were successfully synthesised. 1H NMR binding experiments were performed between Unit B and each of the two variants of Unit A. Their binding behaviour was described. A binding constant could not be calculated because the units did not bind in a 1:1 fashion.

This thesis describes studies towards the total synthesis of manzamine A (9), a marine alkaloid. Two routes are presented. The first route applied a novel palladium-catalysed arylative allene spirocyclisation cascade to the synthesis of manzamine A (9). In the first generation, a short route was developed to access the tricyclic ACE core 263a in only nine steps. The second generation applied the palladium-catalysed cascade to a similar system which utilised non-terminal allene pro-nucleophile 450 in an attempt to access a homologated derivative of the ACE core. The second route relied on a diastereoselective Michael addition between nitro-olefin 473 and 8,5-fused ring system 146 comprising rings C and E of manzamine A (9). Further elaboration of the Michael addition product enabled the synthesis of tetracyclic ABCE core precursor 464 to be carried out and preliminary investigations into ring B formation were investigated.

This thesis describes the development of a synthetic route towards daphlongeranine B, an alkaloid isolated from the fruits of Daphniphyllum longeracemosum, by utilising an intramolecular Michael addition to form its unique tricyclic core. Chapter 1 gives a general introduction to the family of Daphniphyllum alkaloids together with some recent examples, from the literature, illustrating some synthetic attempts towards structurally similar alkaloids. This chapter also features our retrosynthetic analysis of daphlongeranine B. Chapter 2 details the synthesis of the model spirocyclic enone 72 which was the vital building block needed to investigate the key intramolecular Michael addition. This key reaction was then successfully validated and access to the unique tricyclic core 64 of daphlongeranine B was made possible. Chapter 3 expands the scope of the key intramolecular Michael addition step. This chapter first describes a synthetic route to the Î2-substituted spirocyclic enone 112 and subsequently validates the key intramolecular Michael addition step to give the tricyclic core 138 of daphlongeranine B. Chapter 4 details a synthetic route towards the spirocyclic fragment 141 by utilising a Baker's yeast reduction and a tandem addition/cyclisation reaction.

A brief summary of the use of palladium as a catalyst, the characteristic reactivity of palladium complexes and the commonly used palladium-catalysed cross coupling reactions is given, with a special focus on the palladium-catalysed α-arylation of enolates and its application to the synthesis of aromatic heterocycles. The synthesis of aromatic heterocycles via both traditional methods and more recent metal-catalysed approaches is discussed in the context of isoquinolines. The palladium-catalysed oxidation of dihydrofurans bearing an ortho-bromophenyl group at the 2-position to the corresponding 2-phenyl furans is disclosed along with some preliminary mechanistic investigations. A novel synthetic route to isoquinolines is detailed involving the palladium-catalysed α-arylation of ketone enolates with an appropriate ortho-substituted aryl halide to furnish a protected 1,5-dicarbonyl intermediate. The versatility of these intermediates is demonstrated with their conversion into isoquinolines, isoquinoline N-oxides and naphthols. The scope of the synthetic procedure is fully exemplified across more than 30 different scaffolds covering the full spectrum of electron-rich to electron-deficient moieties. The intermediates were shown to be amenable to functionalisation with electrophiles, leading to isoquinolines bearing additional substitution at the C4 position. Sequential one-pot procedures were developed allowing three and four component couplings to directly deliver highly-substituted isoquinolines from commercially available starting materials. This methodology was utilised in the total synthesis of the natural product berberine in 26% overall yield and a longest linear sequence of six steps.

Inositol phosphates play a fundamental role in many intracellular processes. Of particular importance is the role of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3] in the protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) signalling pathway. PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 recruits PKB to the cell membrane through binding interactions with its pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. In several human cancers, this signalling pathway is upregulated, resulting in increased cell growth and proliferation. In order to investigate the therapeutic potential of the PtdIns(3,4,5)P3–PH domain binding interaction, it is necessary to develop inositol phosphate-based probes. This DPhil dissertation highlights the synthesis of a number of derivatives of the PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 head group – inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4]. These derivatives incorporated phosphate isosteres at both the 3- and 5-positions of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, through the utilisation of novel protection and deprotection strategies. In addition, this dissertation highlights the efficient synthesis of the natural product inositol 1,3-bisphosphate [Ins(1,3)P2] and our work towards the synthesis of inositol pyrophosphate derivatives.

High aerobic glycolytic capacity is correlated with poor prognosis and increased tumour aggressiveness. 6Phosphofructo-1-kinase catalyses the first irreversible step of glycolysis, and is activated by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, a product of the kinase activity of four bifunctional isoenzymes, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2:PFKFB1-4). These are potential anti-tumour targets, but their individual and collective role requires further investigation. This thesis had three aims; to validate the PFK-2/FBPase-2 isoenzymes as anti-cancer targets, to investigate the requirement for isoenzyme-specific targeting, and to initiate assay development, enabling future identification of novel inhibitors. A panel of cancer cell lines was examined and PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 were confirmed to be the most strongly induced isoenzymes in hypoxia, regulated by HIF-1α. Basal and hypoxic relative PFKFB3/PFKFB4 expression varied markedly, and three cell lines with varying expression ratios (MCF-7, U87, PC3) were selected for further study. siRNA knockdown of each isoenzyme individually, markedly reduced 2D and 3D cell growth. The effect of PFKFB3 knockdown was consistently more pronounced, particularly in hypoxia. Double PFKFB3/PFKFB4 knockdown was significantly less effective than PFKFB3 knockdown alone. Direct antagonism of PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 on F-2,6-BP concentration was observed, with PFKFB3 exhibiting high kinase activity, as anticipated, and PFKFB4 exhibiting high bisphosphatase activity. The degree of antagonism was dependent on the relative PFKFB3/PFKFB4 expression ratio. Extensive efforts were made to examine the wider metabolic effect of PFKFB3/PFKFB4 on flux towards glycolysis or the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), including using metabolite, lipid droplet, 13C NMR and mass spectrometry assays. No significant change in metabolic flux was detected, the evidence presented therefore suggesting the impact of the antagonistic effects of the isoenzymes on [F-2,6-BP] extends beyond regulation of metabolic flux alone. This study concluded that the most effective therapeutic strategy will be one that involves a PFKFB3-specific inhibitor, preferably hypoxia-targeted. Accordingly, steps were taken to validate and optimise a robust medium-throughput assay system.

The primary objective of this research project was to develop a novel protocol for the synthesis of densely functionalized optically enriched indanes through a chiral cation directed 5-endo-trig ring closure. In chapter two, a convergent strategy for the construction of the cyclization precursors is reported, which employs two easily adapted fragments. In chapter three, a range of quaternary ammonium salts are screened to establish the optimal phase-transfer conditions for this system. A variety of substrates were evaluated to probe the scope and limitations of this methodology. Finally, two potential mechanistic pathways for this enigmatic process are outlined and discussed in chapter four.

This thesis describes our examination of the reactivity of allenylpalladium intermediates generated from the reaction of palladium(0) with propargylic electrophiles. Chapter 1 provides a general overview of the literature reported to date concerning the nature and reactivity of allenylpalladium intermediates. The coupling of a variety of propargylic electrophiles with aryl boronic acids to form allenes is examined in Chapter 2. However, when employing diastereomerically pure electrophiles, some erosion of stereochemistry was observed in the allene products. This effect was examined further, and epimerisation of the allene product was found to be the origin of the loss of stereochemistry. Evidence for the species likely responsible for this epimerisation is presented. The serendipitous formation of tetrahydrofurans (THFs) from propargylic 7-membered cyclic carbonates prompted an in-depth examination of this reactivity, as described in Chapter 3. The reaction of these cyclic carbonates was rendered stereoselective and the stereochemical outcome of the reaction elucidated. The methodology was extended to propargylic acyclic carbonates which allowed the formation of tetrahydropyrans (THPs). The effect of ring-size and substituents on the cyclisations was examined, culminating in the formation of two rings in a single step from diol-containing bis-carbonates. Chapter 4 describes the extension of this methodology to the formation of azacyclic products. This built upon foundation work conducted by a Part II student within the group, and further improved the selectivity of the reaction. Two diverse azacyclic skeletons could be formed from the same substrate by the employment of different bidentate phosphine ligands, and a variety of substrates were examined under these conditions. Chapter 5 draws general conclusions and sets out possible future directions for the methodology, and full experimental details are outlined in Chapter 6.

Manganese(III) acetate mediated radical cyclisations provide a mild and powerful tool in the construction of complex bicyclic systems. This thesis focuses on the formation of a number of alkenyl substituted [3.3.0]-bicyclic γ-lactones utilising a manganese(III) acetate/copper(II) triflate induced radical cyclisation. The methodology was then applied to a short catalytic and enantioselective synthesis of (+)-aphanamol I and related natural products. Chapter 1 presents a summary of the theories and methodology which will be utilised in this work. In particular, a key focus will revolve around oxidative radical cyclisations and how manganese(III) acetate has become a vital oxidant in such areas. Chapter 2 details a catalytic and asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-aphanamol I. Following an overview of the natural product and its previous total synthesis, a racemic and asymmetric total synthesis is presented which utilises a manganese(III) acetate mediated radical cyclisation and a Claisen ring expansion as key steps. Chapter 3 reports the synthesis and subsequent cyclisation of a wide range of dienyl malonate substrates. Variation of the γ-substituent is first explored, demonstrating the effect that substituent size has on the diastereoselectivity of the cyclisation. Following this, the synthesis of [2.3.0]-,[4.3.0]- and [5.3.0]- bicyclic γ-lactones are investigated. Chapter 4 describes studies towards the total synthesis of a dolabellane natural product. Investigations into substrate synthesis which can be used in a RCM will be presented. Full experimental details and spectral data, with select NMR spectra are also provided.

This thesis is concerned with the development of methodology for the asymmetric syntheses of the nakinadine family of marine alkaloids and through these synthetic endeavours, seeks to confirm the structure and assign the relative and absolute configurations of these alkaloids for the first time.

Well-regulated Ca2+ signalling is essential for every living organism, and disruption of this signalling can lead to diseases including heart failure, neurological disorders and diabetes. Intracellular Ca2+ levels are regulated by influx of extracellular Ca2+ through channels located in the cell membrane. In addition, release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores also plays an important role in controlling intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Of the three types of intracellular Ca2+ stores that have been characterised those with D-myo-Inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate receptors (InsP3Rs) showed a close relationship with cell proliferation. Hence, selective blockage of InsP3Rs will allow better understanding of Ca2+ signalling and might also unveil novel treatment for cancers, in the long term. There were no selective InsP3Rs antagonists known at the start of these studies. Based on the crystal structure of InsP3Rs bound to InsP3 and SAR studies of InsP3, we designed and tested several InsP3 analogues.1 Compound 15, 16 and 23 acted as InsP3R antagonists, though their selectivity for InsP3Rs was not completely determined. Furthermore, we also attempted to improve the potency of 16 via substitution at the 1-postion phosphate. By considering the interaction formed between adenophosphostins and InsP3Rs compounds (53-55) were designed and synthesised. In addition, analogues of compound 92, selected from an in silico screen, have led to the discovery of another novel scaffold that acts as an InsP3R antagonist.

Benzylic fluorides are attractive target molecules for medicinal chemistry, agrochemicals and materials chemistry. The enantioselective synthesis of benzylic fluorides is challenging and few general methods exist. This thesis describes several approaches to the synthesis of benzylic fluoride targets, including enantioselective processes. Chapter 1: Reviews the properties, uses and synthetic approaches to fluorinated molecules, with a particular focus on benzylic fluorides and enantioselective syntheses. Chapter 2: Describes the fluorination cyclisation of prochiral indole precursors. The use of catalytic amounts of a bis-cinchona alkaloid gave good enantioselectivities for the cyclisation. Alcohol, tosylamine, amide and carbamate pendant nucleophiles all cyclised successfully to give quaternary benzylic fluorides in moderate yields and with enantioselectivities up to 92%. The substrate scope of the reaction is described, as well as methodology for deprotection of cyclised nitrogen nucleophiles. Chapter 3: Details an investigation of the Pd catalysed substitution of polycyclic benzylic fluorides by a range of nucleophiles and their relative reactivity in comparison to oxygen leaving groups. Modification of the methodology to enable reaction of monocyclic substrate substitution was enabled by the use of a protic solvent. Chemoselective reaction conditions were identified for selective reaction of Bn-F or Ar-Cl bonds and comparative reactivity studies were undertaken. The feasibility of Pd(0)/(II) catalysed nucleophilic C-F bond formation was examined. Chapter 4: The development of the defluorination methodology from Chapter 3 for secondary substrates is described. The stereochemical course of defluorination was probed, showing that displacement of fluoride is mechanistically similar to that of oxygen leaving groups. A kinetic resolution with a low selectivity was developed for access to enantioenriched benzylic fluorides.

Two photon absorption (TPA) is the near simultaneous absorption of two photons of light to achieve an electronically excited state. It has led to huge advances in microscopy and microfabrication due to its quadratic dependence on the local light intensity. This thesis describes the design, synthesis and application of dyes with strong TPA properties, and as such is divided into three chapters. The first introduces the theory and measurement of TPA as well as structure-property relationships known to maximise the efficiency of TPA. The subsequent chapters present explorations of the application of these dyes in biological applications; namely two-photon uncaging and two-photon photodynamic therapy. A recurring theme in my research is the discussion and evaluation of strategies for improving the compatibility of organic macromolecules with biological systems. Uncaging is the use of photolysis to achieve a rapid increase in the local concentration of a physiologically active species via a photoremovable protecting groups. Photoremovable protecting groups are covalently attached to the physiologically active species, thus rendering it inactive. At the desired time and location, a light dose releases the molecule in its active form. There are many compounds known to uncage following photoexcitation, but there are few examples of caging groups which exhibit both strong two-photon absorption properties and highly efficient uncaging. Chapter 2 discusses the rational design of such groups through the development of a new mechanism for uncaging, in which a photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) between a two-photon-excited electron donor and an electron acceptor/release group drives the uncaging event. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment for neoplastic disorders such as cancer in which localised cell death is induced through photoexcitation of a sensitiser. Following light absorption, the photosensitiser enters a relatively long-lived excited state which reacts with cellular oxygen to produce its highly cytotoxic singlet form. The main challenges of the field are to achieve deep penetration of light into tissue and to reduce coincident damage to unaffected tissue by light scattering during irradiation. In 2008, the Anderson group reported the development of PDT photosensitisers with highly efficient two-photon absorption as well as high singlet oxygen quantum yields. Chapter 3 discusses strategies for improving the pharmacokinetics and defining the sub-cellular localisation of these photosensitisers.

The functionalisation of C-H bonds has been widely studied in organic synthesis. This work presents the results of investigation into two areas of current research, copper-catalysed aromatic C-H functionalisation and rhodium-catalysed hydroacylation. Chapter 1 presents the development of palladium- and copper-catalysed aromatic C-H functionalisation with particular attention paid to regiocontrol. Chapter 2 describes the development of copper-catalysed cross-coupling of perfluorinated arenes and alkenyl halides along with efforts to expand this methodology to a more general reaction. In Chapter 3 the development of chelation-controlled rhodium-catalysed hydroacylation is discussed. Chapter 4 outlines the utilisation of amino acid derived N-methylthiomethyl aldehydes in rhodium-catalysed hydroacylation methodology.

This thesis is concerned with the development of methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of a range of amino polyol containing compounds. Chapter 1 highlights the abundance of the amino polyol motif in nature, the wide range of biological activities displayed by amino polyol containing compounds, and their occurrence in drug molecules. A variety of different methods for the synthesis of stereodefined amino polyols is then discussed. Chapter 2 details a full investigation into the doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition reactions of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)amide to enantiopurealpha,beta-unsaturated esters which contain a dioxolane unit. The “matched” conjugate addition reactions were further coupled with a highly diastereoselective in situ enolate oxidation using camphorsulfonyloxaziridine for the synthesis of keyalpha-hydroxy-beta-amino ester intermediates. Subsequent cyclisation and further elaboration allowed access to a range of amino polyol containing compounds including imino sugars, amino sugars, and amino acids. Chapter 3 extends the investigation into the doubly diastereoselective lithium amide conjugate addition reaction to enantiopure alpha,beta-unsaturated esters which contain two dioxolane units. A full assessment into the conjugate addition of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)amide to a series of D-pentose derived alpha,beta-unsaturated esters is reported. Subsequent elaboration of thebeta-amino ester products of these conjugate addition reactions resulted in the synthesis of (2'S,3'S,4'R)-dihydroxyhomoproline and (2'S,3'R,4'S)-dihydroxyhomoproline. Chapter 4 describes the asymmetric syntheses of protected forms of APTO and AETD, the 2,4,5-trihydroxy substitutedbeta-amino acid residues found within the hexapeptide marine natural products microsclerodermins C, D and E. The optimised synthetic routes to APTO and AETD involved three key steps: a diastereoselective aminohydroxylation [via conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)amide to an achiralalpha,beta-unsaturated ester followed by in situ enolate oxidation with camphorsulfonyloxaziridine], a diastereoselective dihydroxylation, and an olefination. Chapter 5 contains full experimental procedures and characterisation data for all compounds synthesised in chapters 2, 3 and 4.