Toxicity of lupane derivatives on anionic membrane models, isolated rat mitochondria and selected human cell lines: Role of terminal alkyl chains.

Triterpenoids have multiple biological properties, although little information is available regarding their toxicity. The present study evaluates the toxicity of two new synthetic lupane derivatives using distinct biological models including synthetic lipids membranes, isolated liver and heart mitochondria fractions, and cell lines in culture. The two novel triterpenoids caused perturbations in the organization of synthetic lipid bilayers, leading to changes in membrane fluidity. Inhibition of cell proliferation and mitochondrial and nuclear morphological alterations were also identified. Inhibition of mitochondrial oxygen consumption, transmembrane electric potential depolarization and induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore was observed, although effects on isolated mitochondrial fractions were tissue-dependent (e.g. liver vs. heart). The size and length of hydrocarbon chains in the two molecules appear to be determinant for the degree of interaction with mitochondria, especially in the whole cell environment, where more barriers for diffusion exist. The results suggest that the positively charged triterpenoids target mitochondria and disrupt bioenergetics.

Electrophilic monoiodination of terminal alkenes.

An excess of elemental iodine in N,N-dimethylacetamide enables effective 3/iodanylium-de-hydronation of terminal alkenes with 3-iodopropene derivatives and hydrogen iodide formation within minutes at room temperature. The optimal molar ratio of iodine to substrate was decreased to 1 : 1 when hydrogen iodide formed was oxidized on a platinum anode. The electrolytic oxidation recovers iodine as a reagent and diminishes the hydrogen iodide inhibitory action to accomplish the monoiodination. The proposed reaction mechanism is based on kinetic measurements and quantum mechanics calculations.