A series of triterpenoids of the lupane, taraxastane, friedelane and baccharane type were oxidized using selenium dioxide (SeO2) and benzeneseleninic anhydride (BSA) under various conditions. Depending on the reaction conditions, different reaction pathways were observed, including dehydrogenation, allylic oxidation, and 1,2-diketone formation. In this way, derivatives functionalized in the triterpene core (especially in rings A, D, and E), difficult to obtain by other methods, can be easily prepared. In some cases, rarely observed α-phenylseleno-ketones were isolated. An unexpected reaction involving the cleavage of the carbon-carbon double bond was observed in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of osmium tetroxide. Further transformations of selected intermediates facilitated the synthesis of new, functionally enriched derivatives. The key reaction pathways were investigated using density functional theory (DFT), focusing on bond length variations and transition states, revealing energetically favored pathways and critical transition structures, including covalent and noncovalent interactions. Solvent and isomerization equilibrium effects were proposed to explain the experimentally observed discrepancies. Cytotoxic activity of selected derivatives was investigated. Derivatives 4 and 38 showed strongest cytotoxicity in cancer cells and fibroblasts (IC50 2.6-26.4 μM); some compounds were selective for G-361 or HeLa cells. These results suggest that they may find application in pharmaceuticals.

Department of Organic Chemistry Faculty of Chemistry University of Bialystok K Ciołkowskiego 1 K 15 245 Białystok Poland

Institute of Organic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences Kasprzaka 44 52 01 224 Warsaw Poland

Institute of Physical Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences Kasprzaka 44 52 01 224 Warsaw Poland

Laboratory of Growth Regulators Faculty of Science Palacký University and Institute of Experimental Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Šlechtitelů 27 CZ 77900 Olomouc Czech Republic

Laboratory of Growth Regulators Faculty of Science Palacký University and Institute of Experimental Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Šlechtitelů 27 CZ 77900 Olomouc Czech Republic; Department of Experimental Biology Faculty of Science Palacký University Šlechtitelů 27 CZ 77900 Olomouc Czech Republic

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