Synthesis of 1-O-monoacyl or 12-O-monoacyl, 1-,12-O-diacyl-, and 11,12-dehydrated excisanin A 7,14-acetonides and their cytotoxic activity.

1-O-Monoacyl, 12-O-monoacyl, 1-,12-O-diacyl, and 11,12-dehydrated excisanin A 7,14-acetonides were synthesized from excisanin A isolated from Rabdosia excisa. The structure and cytotoxic activity relationships (SAR) of the natural parent ent-kaurene diterpenes and these semisynthetic analogues were studied by using P388 murine leukemia cells.