Title:
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Photochemistry of pyrroles and other heterocycles in batch and flow
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This thesis is split into three sections. The first presents the discovery and development of a novel
photochemical cycloaddition/rearrangement sequence of electron deficient N-butenyl pyrroles to
form fused tricyclic aziridines. The reaction proceeds via two photochemical steps, the first of
which is reversible and is mediated in the forward direction by short wavelength DV around 254
run. The backwards reaction and the second step of the sequence are facilitated at longer
wavelengths around 312 nm. Detailed mechanistic studies have shown that the second step
proceeds via a triplet mechanism as it is quenched by isoprene
The scope of this reaction has been studied thoroughly. An electron withdrawing group is
required at the 2-position of pyrrole, and extra functionality around the ring is well tolerated. The
use of indoles and imidazoles as alternative heterocycles has been investigated, and a number of
alkene and non-alkene tethers of branched, linear and cyclic nature have been applied. Pyrroles
containing the alkene tether at the C3 position have also been subjected to this reaction and have
been found to yield interesting cyclobutane structures.
The second section describes the application of this methodology to the synthesis of alkaloid
natural product dendrobine. While the synthesis was not completed, important observations were
made, leading to the identification of limitations within this methodology. Complex, cyclic
tethers are not always tolerated and can facilitate an alternative reaction pathway
Finally, a thorough and comprehensive investigation into flow vs. batch photochemistry is
presented. Twelve photochemical reactions, after independent optimisation under both batch and
flow conditions, were found to give strikingly similar yields with the productivity of a three layer
FEP flow reactor being around 20% higher than batch. The safety advantage of carrying out
hazardous reactions on flow is also illustrated. In light of the results, a set of general guidelines
for first time and experienced photochemists alike is presented
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