Rubush, David Michael, authorRovis, Tomislav, advisorKennan, Alan, committee memberCrans, Debbie, committee memberChen, Eugene, committee memberKanatous, Shane, committee member2007-01-032007-01-032012http://hdl.handle.net/10217/71583A viable route toward the pyrido-azepine core of stemocurtisine involving an N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed Stetter reaction has been realized. The key steps involve a formal [3+2] cycloaddition of enones with isocyanoacetates and a catalytic asymmetric intramolecular Stetter reaction. Additionally, a diastereoselective intramolecular Stetter reaction was achieved to access highly substituted pyrrolidines. Asymmetric Brønsted acid catalyzed cascade reactions were also investigated. A diastereoselective acetalization/oxa-Micahel cascade has been developed to provide dioxolanes and oxazolidines using diphenylphosphinic acid as a catalyst. The enantioselective variant of this reaction was explored with minor success. The desymmetrization of p-peroxyquinols using a Brønsted acid catalyzed acetalization/oxa-Michael cascade was achieved in high yields and selectivities for a variety of aliphatic and aryl aldehydes. Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through a dynamic kinetic resolution of the peroxy-hemiacetal intermediate. The resulting 1,2,4-trioxane products were derivatized and show potent cytotoxicity toward specific cancer cells.born digitaldoctoral dissertationsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.Text