Lupane derivatives containing an electronegative substituent in the position 2 of the skeleton are often cytotoxic, however, the most active compounds are not selective enough. To further study the influence of a substituent in the position 2 in lupane and 18α-oleanane derivatives on their biological properties, we prepared a set of 38 triterpenoid compounds, 19 of them new, most of them substituted in the position 2. From betulin, we obtained 2-bromo dihydrobetulonic acid and 2-bromo allobetulon and their substitutions yielded derivatives with various substituents in the position 2 such as amines, amides, thiols, and thioethers. Nitration of allobetulon and dihydrobetulonic acid gave 2-nitro and 2,2-dinitro derivatives. Fifteen derivatives had IC50 < 50 μM on a chemosensitive CCRF-CEM (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) cell line and were tested on another seven cancer cell lines including resistant and two non-cancer lines. 2-Amino allobetulin had IC50 4.6 μM and caused significant block of the tumor cells in S and slightly in G2/M transition and caused strong inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis at 5 × IC50. 2-Amino allobetulin is the most active derivative of 18α-oleanane skeletal type prepared in our research group to date.

Department of Organic Chemistry Faculty of Science Palacky University Olomouc 17 listopadu 1192 12 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic

Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Palacky University Olomouc Hnevotinska 5 779 00 Olomouc Czech Republic

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