Oxidative Functionalization of Trinor-18α-olean-17(22)-ene Derivatives. Annulation of the E-Ring by an Intramolecular Aldol Reaction.

cis-Dihydroxylation of trinor-18α-olean-17(22)-ene 2 with osmium tetroxide led to diol 9. Its cleavage with lead tetraacetate gave tetracyclic ketoaldehyde 10. By comparison, the ozonation of trinor-18α-olean-17(22)-ene 2 in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid gave the corresponding ketoacetal 12. Both products were subjected to an intramolecular aldol reaction under the acidic conditions and yielded unusual triterpenes bearing a bicyclo[4.3.1]decane fragment (22). Further manipulation of the protective groups afforded compounds useful in triterpene synthesis, especially in the preparation of potentially biologically active saponins based on a tetracyclic terpene core.

New lupane bidesmosides exhibiting strong cytotoxic activities in vitro.

Triterpene bidesmosides are considered as highly cytotoxic saponins, usually less toxic against normal cells than monodesmosides, and less haemolytic. Biological activity of the betulin-type bidesmosides, rarely found in Nature, and seldom prepared due to serious synthetic problems, is poorly recognized. We report herein a protocol for the preparation of disubstituted lupane saponins (betulin bidesmosides) by treatment of their benzoates with potassium carbonate in dichloromethane / methanol solution. Cytotoxicity of all compounds was tested in vitro for a series of cancer cell lines, as well as normal human skin BJ fibroblasts. Presence of l-rhamnose moiety is crucial for cytotoxicity of betulin bidesmosides. On the other hand, l-arabinose fragment connected to lupane C-3 carbon atom significantly decreases activity. Presented results clearly show that betulin bidesmosides have significant clinical potential as anticancer agents.

Influence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds on regioselectivity of glycosylation. Synthesis of lupane-type saponins bearing the OSW-1 saponin disaccharide unit and its isomers.

A series of lupane-type saponins bearing OSW-1 disaccharide unit as well as its regio- and stereoisomers were prepared and used for the structure-activity relationships (SAR) study. Unexpected preference for 1→4-linked regioisomers and an unusual inversion of the conformation of the sugar rings were noted. Cytotoxic activity of new lupane compounds was evaluated in vitro and revealed that some saponins exhibited an interesting bioactivity profile against human cancer cell lines. Influence of the protecting groups on the cytotoxicity was investigated. These results open the way to the synthesis of various lupane-type triterpene and saponin derivatives as potential anticancer compounds.