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Lombrea A, Watz CG, Bora L, Dehelean CA, Diaconeasa Z, Dinu S, Turks M, Lugiņina J, Peipiņš U, Danciu C. Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Antimelanoma Activity of Novel Semisynthetic Derivatives of Betulinic Acid with Indole Conjugation. Plants (Basel) 2023; 13:36. [PMID: 38202344 PMCID: PMC10780819 DOI: 10.3390/plants13010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence and severity of skin cancer, specifically malignant melanoma, among Caucasians remains a significant concern. Natural compounds from plants have long been explored as potential anticancer agents. Betulinic acid (BI) has shown promise in its therapeutic properties, including its anticancer effects. However, its limited bioavailability has hindered its medicinal applications. To address this issue, two recently synthesized semisynthetic derivatives, N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)diglycylglycine (BA1) and N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)glycylglycine (BA2), were compared with previously reported compounds N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)glycine (BA3), 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid (BA4), and BI. These compounds were evaluated for their effects on murine melanoma cells (B164A5) using various in vitro assays. The introduction of an indole framework at the C2 position of BI resulted in an increased cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of compound BA4 was enhanced by conjugating its carboxylic group with an amino acid residue. BA2 and BA3, with glycine and glycylglycine residues at C28, exhibited approximately 2.20-fold higher inhibitory activity compared to BA4. The safety assessment of the compounds on human keratinocytes (HaCaT) has revealed that concentrations up to 10 µM slightly reduced cell viability, while concentrations of 75 µM resulted in lower cell viability rates. LDH leakage assays confirmed cell membrane damage in B164A5 cells when exposed to the tested compounds. BA2 and BA3 exhibited the highest LDH release, indicating their strong cytotoxicity. The NR assay revealed dose-dependent lysosome disruption for BI and 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid derivatives, with BA1, BA2, and BA3 showing the most cytotoxic effects. Scratch assays demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of cell migration, with BA2 and BA3 being the most effective. Hoechst 3342 staining revealed that BA2 induced apoptosis, while BA3 induced necrosis at lower concentrations, confirming their anti-melanoma properties. In conclusion, the semisynthetic derivatives of BI, particularly BA2 and BA3, show promise as potential candidates for further research in developing effective anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelina Lombrea
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (L.B.); (C.D.)
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Claudia Geanina Watz
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Physics, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Larisa Bora
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (L.B.); (C.D.)
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Cristina Adriana Dehelean
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Department of Toxicology and Drug Industry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Zorita Diaconeasa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Department of Biotechnology, BIODIATECH—Research Centre for Applied Biotechnology in Diagnosis and Molecular Therapy, 400478 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Stefania Dinu
- Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 9 No., Revolutiei Bv., 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Pediatric Dentistry Research Center, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 9 No., Revolutiei Bv., 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Māris Turks
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.); (U.P.)
| | - Jevgeņija Lugiņina
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.); (U.P.)
| | - Uldis Peipiņš
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.); (U.P.)
- Nature Science Technologies Ltd., Rupnicu Str. 4, LV-2114 Olaine, Latvia
| | - Corina Danciu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (L.B.); (C.D.)
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
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Lombrea A, Semenescu AD, Magyari-Pavel IZ, Turks M, Lugiņina J, Peipiņš U, Muntean D, Dehelean CA, Dinu S, Danciu C. Comparison of In Vitro Antimelanoma and Antimicrobial Activity of 2,3-Indolo-betulinic Acid and Its Glycine Conjugates. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:1253. [PMID: 36986941 PMCID: PMC10058300 DOI: 10.3390/plants12061253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is one of the most pressing problems in the developing world. New therapeutic agents that might be effective in treating malignancies that have developed resistance to conventional medications are urgently required. Semisynthesis is an essential method for improving the biological activity and the therapeutic efficacy of natural product precursors. Semisynthetic derivatives of natural compounds are valuable sources of new drug candidates with a variety of pharmacological actions, including anticancer ones. Two novel semisynthetic derivatives of betulinic acid-N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)diglycylglycine (BA1) and N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)glycylglycine (BA2)-were designed and their antiproliferative, cytotoxic, and anti-migratory activity against A375 human melanoma cells was determined in comparison with known N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)glycine (BA3), 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid (BA4) and naturally occurring betulinic acid (BI). A dose-dependent antiproliferative effect with IC50 values that ranged from 5.7 to 19.6 µM was observed in the series of all five compounds including betulinic acid. The novel compounds BA1 (IC50 = 5.7 µM) and BA2 (IC50 = 10.0 µM) were three times and two times more active than the parent cyclic structure B4 and natural BI. Additionally, compounds BA2, BA3, and BA4 possess antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 with MIC values in the range of 13-16 µg/mL and 26-32 µg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, antifungal activity toward Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 was found for compound BA3 with MIC 29 µg/mL. This is the first report of antibacterial and antifungal activity of 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid derivatives and also the first extended report on their anti-melanoma activity, which among others includes data on anti-migratory activity and shows the significance of amino acid side chain on the observed activity. The obtained data justify further research on the anti-melanoma and antimicrobial activity of 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelina Lombrea
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (C.D.)
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.-D.S.); (D.M.); (C.A.D.)
| | - Alexandra-Denisa Semenescu
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.-D.S.); (D.M.); (C.A.D.)
- Department of Toxicology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ioana Zinuca Magyari-Pavel
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (C.D.)
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.-D.S.); (D.M.); (C.A.D.)
| | - Māris Turks
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.); (U.P.)
| | - Jevgeņija Lugiņina
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.); (U.P.)
| | - Uldis Peipiņš
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.); (U.P.)
- Nature Science Technologies Ltd., Rupnicu Str. 4, LV-2114 Olaine, Latvia
| | - Delia Muntean
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.-D.S.); (D.M.); (C.A.D.)
- Department of Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cristina Adriana Dehelean
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.-D.S.); (D.M.); (C.A.D.)
- Department of Toxicology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Stefania Dinu
- Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 9 No., Revolutiei Bv., 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Pediatric Dentistry Research Center, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 9 No., Revolutiei Bv., 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Corina Danciu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (C.D.)
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.-D.S.); (D.M.); (C.A.D.)
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Lombrea A, Scurtu AD, Avram S, Pavel IZ, Turks M, Lugiņina J, Peipiņš U, Dehelean CA, Soica C, Danciu C. Anticancer Potential of Betulonic Acid Derivatives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3676. [PMID: 33916089 PMCID: PMC8037575 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials have evidenced that several natural compounds, belonging to the phytochemical classes of alkaloids, terpenes, phenols and flavonoids, are effective for the management of various types of cancer. Latest research has proven that natural products and their semisynthetic variants may serve as a starting point for new drug candidates with a diversity of biological and pharmacological activities, designed to improve bioavailability, overcome cellular resistance, and enhance therapeutic efficacy. This review was designed to bring an update regarding the anticancer potential of betulonic acid and its semisynthetic derivatives. Chemical derivative structures of betulonic acid including amide, thiol, and piperidine groups, exert an amplification of the in vitro anticancer potential of betulonic acid. With the need for more mechanistic and in vivo data, some derivatives of betulonic acids may represent promising anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelina Lombrea
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (S.A.); (I.Z.P.); (C.D.)
- Research Centre for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.A.D.); (C.S.)
| | - Alexandra Denisa Scurtu
- Research Centre for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.A.D.); (C.S.)
- Department of Toxicology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Stefana Avram
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (S.A.); (I.Z.P.); (C.D.)
- Research Centre for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.A.D.); (C.S.)
| | - Ioana Zinuca Pavel
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (S.A.); (I.Z.P.); (C.D.)
- Research Centre for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.A.D.); (C.S.)
| | - Māris Turks
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.)
| | - Jevgeņija Lugiņina
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.)
| | - Uldis Peipiņš
- Nature Science Technologies Ltd., Saules Str. 19, LV-3601 Ventspils, Latvia;
| | - Cristina Adriana Dehelean
- Research Centre for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.A.D.); (C.S.)
- Department of Toxicology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Codruta Soica
- Research Centre for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.A.D.); (C.S.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Corina Danciu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.L.); (S.A.); (I.Z.P.); (C.D.)
- Research Centre for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.A.D.); (C.S.)
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Khlebnicova TS, Piven YA, Baranovsky AV, Lakhvich FA, Shishkina SV, Zicāne D, Tetere Z, Rāviņa I, Kumpiņš V, Rijkure I, Mieriņa I, Peipiņš U, Turks M. Synthesis of novel lupane triterpenoid-indazolone hybrids with oxime ester linkage. Steroids 2017; 117:77-89. [PMID: 27500691 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
An efficient protocol for the synthesis of novel lupane triterpenoid-indazolone hybrids with oxime ester linkage has been developed from naturally accessible precursor betulin. For the first time a series of betulonic acid-indazolone hybrids have been synthesized via an acylation of corresponding 6,7-dihydro-1H-indazol-4(5H)-one oximes with betulonic acid chloride. Diastereoselective reduction of the obtained betulonic acid conjugates with NaBH4 resulted in a formation of betulinic acid-indazolone hybrids in excellent yields. The configuration of the key compounds has been fully established by X-ray and 2D NMR analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana S Khlebnicova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Acad. Kuprevicha Str. 5/2, 220141 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Yuri A Piven
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Acad. Kuprevicha Str. 5/2, 220141 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Alexander V Baranovsky
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Acad. Kuprevicha Str. 5/2, 220141 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Fedor A Lakhvich
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Acad. Kuprevicha Str. 5/2, 220141 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Svetlana V Shishkina
- Institute for Single Crystals, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Lenina 60, Kharkiv 61001, Ukraine
| | - Daina Zicāne
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Zenta Tetere
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Irisa Rāviņa
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Viktors Kumpiņš
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Inese Rijkure
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Inese Mieriņa
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Uldis Peipiņš
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Māris Turks
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, Riga LV-1048, Latvia.
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Peipiņš U, Freimanis N, Stepanovs D, Mishnev A, Turks M. Betulin 3,28-di- O-tosylate. Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online 2014; 70:o879-80. [PMID: 25249923 PMCID: PMC4158509 DOI: 10.1107/s1600536814016602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The title compound, C44H62O6S2{systematic name: (1R,3aS,5aR,5bR,7aR,9S,11aR,11bR,13aR,13bR)-5a,5b,8,8,11a-pentamethyl-1-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-3a-[(tosyloxy)methyl]icosahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-yl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate}, was obtained by tosylation of naturally occurring betulin. All the cyclohexane rings adopt chair conformations and the cyclopentane ring adopts a twisted envelope conformation, with the C atom bearing the tosylmethyl substituent forming the flap. In the crystal, molecules form a three-dimensional network through multiple weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds.
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