The creation of new carbon–carbon bonds with a high degree of stereocontrol is a powerful strategy employed in targeted synthesis of complex organic molecules. Chiral benzene-fused 5-membered rings represent a significant portion of medicinally relevant molecules. This dissertation describes the construction of benzodihydrofurans, indanes and indolines by C–H insertion reactions of donor/donor carbenes. Chapter one discusses the development of a stereochemcially predicative model for insertion reactions to form benzodihydrofurans. From this study, a predictive model for diastereoselecitivty was established. Chapter two discusses methodology development for insertion reactions to make indolines and indanes. These cores were produced in high yields, with a high degree of stereocontrol and functional group tolerance.

In recent years, the Jarvo lab has developed the field of stereospecific nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of benzylic electrophiles. This chemistry allows for straightforward synthesis of asymmetric C–C bonds. The focus of this dissertation is on the study of the mechanism of these transformations, and the development of reductive cross-electrophile coupling reactions.

First, the mechanism of the nickel-catalyzed Kumada cross-coupling reaction was studied via a 13C kinetic isotope effect experiment. This experiment indicated that oxidative addition of the nickel catalyst into the C–O σ bond was the rate limiting step. Combining this data with a rate law allowed us to propose a catalytic cycle for this reaction. Additionally, the nickel-catalyzed deoxygenation of benzylic ethers was optimized for the formation of diaryl methanes. Deoxygenation performed best with a proton-rich Grignard reagent. We demonstrated that these Grignard reagents act as the hydride source for the reduction reaction.

Next, an intramolecular nickel-catalyzed reductive cross-electrophile coupling reaction of benzylic ethers and alkyl chlorides was developed. This reaction proceeds with a variety of extended aromatic and heteroaromatic groups to produce cyclopropane rings in great yields and diastereoselectivity. This is the first example of a stereospecific reductive cross-electrophile coupling reaction, as well as the first to employ alkyl ethers and alkyl halides as the electrophiles

Finally, the work on nickel-catalyzed reductive cross-electrophile coupling reactions was expanded to synthesize vinylcyclopropanes from allylic ethers and alkyl halides. This reaction occurs with both alkyl fluorides and alkyl chlorides. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported cross-electrophile coupling reaction of an alkyl fluoride. Ring contraction proceeds with high stereospecificity, providing selective synthesis of either diastereomer of di- and tri-substituted cyclopropanes. The utility of this methodology is demonstrated by several synthetic applications including the synthesis of the natural product dictyopterene A. 2-Vinyl-4-fluorotetrahydrofurans also undergo stereospecific ring contractions, providing access to synthetically useful hydroxymethyl cyclopropanes.

Genes involved in a viral resistance response in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Othello) were identified by inoculating a geminivirus reporter (Bean dwarf mosaic virus expressing the green fluorescent protein), extracting RNA from tissue undergoing the defense response, and amplifying sequences with degenerate R gene primers. One such gene (a TIR-NBS-LRR gene, RT4-4) was selected for functional analysis in which transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana were generated and screened for resistance to a range of viruses. This analysis revealed that RT4-4 did not confer resistance to the reporter geminivirus; however, it did activate a resistance-related response (systemic necrosis) to seven strains of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) from pepper or tomato, but not to a CMV strain from common bean. Of these eight CMV strains, only the strain from common bean systemically infected common bean cv. Othello. Additional evidence that RT4-4 is a CMV R gene came from the detection of resistance response markers in CMV-challenged leaves of RT4-4 transgenic plants, and the identification of the CMV 2a gene product as the elicitor of the necrosis response. These findings indicate that RT4-4 functions across two plant families and is up-regulated in a non-virus-specific manner. This experimental approach holds promise for providing insights into the mechanisms by which plants activate resistance responses against pathogens.