In the framework of this master's thesis, we studied the influence of 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes
(TO) structure on their thermal stability and potential herbicidal activity. For this purpose,
we synthesized a library of dispiro-, spiro- and nonspiro-TO from aldehydes or ketones
and H2O2 through acid-catalyzed cyclocondensation. Different amounts of HBF4 (0.2-2
eq. relative to the carbonyl substrate) were used in the syntheses in fluorinated alcohols
TFE or HFIP as solvents.
Symmetric dispiro-TO synthesized from cyclic ketones had better yields (64-76%) than
symmetric nonspiro-TO (44-46%) synthesized from aliphatic acyclic ketones/aldehydes.
Asymmetric TOs were synthetised from gem-dihydroperoxide, formed by concentrating
a mixture of the chosen ketone and H2O2 in acetonitrile under reduced pressure. This was
followed by cyclocondensation of the resulting gem-dihydroperoxide and the selected
ketone/aldehyde in TFE / HFIP in the presence of HBF4. The synthesis of asymmetric
dispiro-TOs led to TOs with moderate to high yields (38-93%). Further modification of
the substituents at the cyclohexane ring was performed to incorporate a nitrogen atom
into the TO structure as an azide or amide functional groups. A selected TO with
carboxylic acid bound to cyclohexane ring was esterified with 2-bromoethanol with 72%
yield, and then bromine was substituted with an azide group with 87% yield. PPh3 in
THF/H2O solvent was used to reduce the azide group on the TO. The reduction was
performed for 16 h in DMF and yielded 38% of the product. Thermal analysis of the
synthesized TOs was performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Symmetric
dispiro-TOs were thermally more stable than symmetric nonspiro-TOs. The value of the
thermal decomposition temperature for asymmetric TOs was between the values of both
corresponding symmetric TOs. In symmetric dispiro-TO, thermal stability increased as
the polarity of the side substituents increased. The TO library was used to investigate the
effect of TO on the germination and growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). All TO tested
showed inhibition of seed germination, some also showed an inhibition of root growth.
We indirectly measured the oxidative stress in plant cells exposed to different TOs at
concentrations of 0.015 mM, 0.15 mM, 1.5 mM, 15 mM, and 150 mM by measuring the
malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Treatment with 0,015 mM symmetric TO with
cyclohexane ring bearing ester group as a side substituent resulted in increase of MDA
concentration.
|