DEVELOPMENT OF SYNTHETIC METHODOLOGIES VIA ADDITION REACTIONS

Abstract

The rising demand for efficient and sustainable synthetic methodologies motivates chemists to explore new chemistry. This thesis revealed 3 new catalytic, room temperature and high atom economy methodologies for the synthesis of privileged scaffolds in good to excellent yields and stereoselectivities. The first methodology involved the synthesis of benzofuran-fused tetrahydropyridines via chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction while the other methodologies featured photocatalyst-free visible light-driven reactions, specifically, electron donor-acceptor (EDA) strategies. For the first time, ternary and quaternary EDA complexes were disclosed for stereoselective ring expansion and for direct synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds respectively. These EDA strategies are sustainable alternatives that use light to power chemical reactions without the need for toxic and expensive photocatalysts.