Mitochondria-targeted betulinic and ursolic acid derivatives: synthesis and anticancer activity

Abstract

A series of new betulinic and ursolic acid conjugates with a lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cation, meant to enhance the bioavailability and mitochondriotropic action of natural triterpenes, have been synthesized. The in vitro experiments on three human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HCT-116 and TET21N) revealed that all the obtained triphenylphosphonium triterpene acid derivatives not only showed higher cytotoxicity as compared to betulinic acid but were also markedly superior in triggering mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, as assessed using a range of apoptosis markers such as cytochrome c release, stimulation of caspase-3 activity, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, which is one of the targets of caspase 3. The IC₅₀ was much lower for all triphenylphosphonium derivatives when compared to betulinic acid. Out of the tested group of conjugates, the most potent toxicity was exhibited by the betulinic acid conjugate 9 (for 9, the IC₅₀ values against MCF-7 and TET21N cells were 0.70 μM and 0.74 μM; for betulinic acid (BA), IC₅₀ > 25 μM against MCF-7 cells).

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1. Introduction

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved and genetically regulated process of critical importance for embryonic development and maintenance of tissue homeostasis in the adult organism.¹ Apoptosis and cancer are antagonistic processes in cell physiology. Stimulation of apoptosis is responsible for the elimination of potentially harmful or premalignant cells, whereas suppression of apoptotic pathways can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and formation of malignancies. Thus, searching for compounds that can specifically stimulate tumor cell death is very important for developing antitumor strategies.^2,3

Although it appears that distinct pathways leading to cell death are triggered by different signals, they often merge at a common “regulator” of this multistep process – mitochondria. Specifically, permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) and the release of certain proteins (including cytochrome c) from the intermembrane space of mitochondria are regarded as key events in apoptosis induction. Once in the cytosol, cytochrome c interacts with its adaptor molecule, Apaf-1, resulting in the recruitment, processing and activation of pro-caspase-9. Active caspase-9, in turn, cleaves and activates pro-caspase-3 and -7; these effector caspases are responsible for the cleavage of cellular proteins leading to biochemical and morphological characteristic features of apoptosis. Other proteins released from the intermembrane space of mitochondria are the Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF), Smac/Diablo and Omi. AIF and the serine protease Omi catalyze caspase-independent downstream events in the apoptotic process. Therefore, permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) is considered a crucial event during the early phase of the apoptotic process. It should be mentioned that caspase-8 cleaves not only caspase-3 but also Bid, a cytosolic protein and a proapoptotic member of Bcl-2 family proteins.⁴ Truncated Bid (tBid) oligomerizes another proapoptotic protein, Bax, which causes permeabilization of the OMM and cytochrome c release. The pore-forming capacity of Bax and subsequent release of cytochrome c can be prevented by overexpression of Bcl-2. The overexpression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X_L counteracts OMM permeabilization and contributes to drug resistance in high-risk NB cells.⁵ Another mode of OMM permeabilization is stimulation of the so-called mitochondrial permeability transition, a Ca²⁺-dependent process which results in mitochondrial swelling and OMM rupture. Targeting of mitochondria and OMM permeabilization via induction of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) might be powerful tool against protective effects of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X_L.^5–7

Pentacyclic lupane and ursane type triterpenoids (betulin, betulinic and ursolic acids) are among the most abundant terpenoids found in the plant kingdom. These compounds are of interest for pharmacological research, as they exhibit a broad spectrum of biological properties.^8–13 Among these properties of triterpenoids, of special interest is their anticancer activity and the ability to trigger the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in various types of human cancer cells. Thus, betulinic acid is capable of inducing apoptosis in tumor cells of certain types such as melanoma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and neuroectodermal tumors.^14–16 Betulinic acid stimulates apoptosis with the participation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS contribute to permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM), releasing apoptogenic mitochondrial proteins (cytochrome c, Smac, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF)) from the intermembrane space, and subsequent activation of the caspase cascade.^14–18

In vitro, ursolic acid was shown to inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cell types by suppressing the STAT3 activation pathway.^19,20 It can also induce apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest through various pathways, such as inhibition of DNA replication, stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and affecting the balance between pro- and antiapoptotic proteins.^21–23

The special attractiveness of these natural compounds is due to the absence of their cytotoxic action towards normal human cells (fibroblasts or proliferating normal lymphocytes) and negligible systemic toxicity in in vivo experiments, using xenograft models.^24–27 However, the relatively low anticancer potential, high hydrophobicity, and poor blood serum solubilization of triterpene acids markedly hamper their advancement as anticancer drug candidates.

Previously, we synthesized conjugates of lupane triterpenoids with a triphenylphosphonium (TPP⁺) group, which showed cytotoxicity in vitro at low micromolar concentrations and significantly exceeded the antitumor activity of betulinic acid.^28,29 In this paper, we discuss the results of investigations into probable mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic effect of triphenylphosphonium cations of triterpenoids. We have synthesized a new series of triphenylphosphonium salts of betulinic and ursolic acids, studied their cytotoxic activity in two human cancer cell lines and their ability to induce programmed cancer cell death, using markers of apoptosis such as activation of caspase-3, PARP-1 cleavage, permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane, release of cytochrome c and inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

2. Results and discussion

2.1. Chemistry

The triphenylphosphonium group was linked to a molecule of betulinic or ursolic acid at the C-28 position of the triterpenoid skeleton through the hydrophobic n-butyl or hydrophilic triethylene glycol spacer. In an attempt to enhance the antitumor activity of triphenylphosphonium salts, we linked the 3β-OH group in compounds 6, 10, 14, and 16 with a molecule of dichloroacetate, a known pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) inhibitor.³⁰ Inhibition of PDK stimulates the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) facilitating oxidation of pyruvate in mitochondria. Dichloroacetate was shown to reduce high mitochondrial membrane potential in tumor cells and to increase mitochondrial ROS production in malignant but not in normal cells.³¹ Previously,³² it has been shown that dichloroacetate appended to the C-3 hydroxy group of betulinic acid provided a synergistic cytotoxic effect against a broad spectrum of cancer cells.

The betulinic and ursolic acid triphenylphosphonium salts 9 and 15 containing a triethylene glycol bridge were obtained by alkylation of the 28-carboxyl group of the triterpenoids with triethylene glycol dibromide in DMF in the presence of K₂CO₃ at 50 °C for 3 h. The dibromides were synthesized from triethylene glycol ditosylate³³ by treatment with LiBr in boiling acetone for 14 hours. In the synthesis of triterpene acid conjugates 6 and 14, the C(28)-carboxyl group was alkylated with a twofold excess of 1,4-dibromobutane in DMF and acetonitrile in the presence of K₂CO₃ at 50 °C. The bromides thus obtained were refluxed with a fivefold molar excess of triphenylphosphine in acetonitrile. The phosphonium salts with 3-dichloroacetates 6, 10, 14, and 16 were prepared by esterification of the C(3)-hydroxyl in the triterpenoid skeleton with dichloroacetic acid using the carbodiimide method (Schemes 1 and 2).

Scheme 1 Synthesis of betulinic acid derivatives. Reagent and conditions: a 1,4-dibromobutane, K₂CO₃, MeCN, DMF, 50 °C, 3h; b PPh₃, CH₃CN, reflux, Ar, 20–35 h; c Cl₂COOH, DMAP, DCC, CH₂Cl₂, 2–7 h, rt; d AcCI, Py, DMAP, THF, 20 °C; e tri(ethylene glycol) dibromide, K₂CO₃, DMF, 50 °C, 3 h; f tri(ethylene glycol) ditosylate, K₂CO₃, MeCN, 70 °C, 7 h.

Scheme 2 Synthesis of ursolic acid derivatives. Reagents and conditions: a 1,4-dibromobutane, K₂CO₃, MeCN, DMF, 50 °C, 3 h; b PPh₃, CH₃CN, reflux, Ar, 20–35 h; c Cl₂COOH, DMAP, DCC, CH₂Cl₂, 2–7 h, rt; d tri(ethylene glycol) dibromide, K₂CO₃, DMF, 50 °C, 3 h.

2.2. Biological evaluation

2.2.1. Cytotoxicity of BA- and UA-derivatives. The cytotoxic activity was studied for all of the compounds against two human cancer cell lines: MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) and TET21N (neuroblastoma), as well as normal mouse splenocytes, using the MTT test. The results are shown in Fig. 1 and in Table 1.

Fig. 1 Dose-dependent cytotoxic action of triphenylphosphonium salts of betulinic and ursolic acids on TET21N (neuroblastoma) (A) and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) (B) cells. The results are expressed as the percentage of viable cells.

Table 1 Cytotoxic activity IC₅₀* of the triphenylphosphonium betulinic and ursolic acid derivatives against the cancer cells TET21N and MCF-7

Test compound	TET21N	MCF-7
Note: *IC50 (μM) is the half maximal inhibitory concentration for viable cells. Each IC50 (mean ± SE) has been derived from at least three experiments in duplicate.
6	1.26 ± 0.18	0.80 ± 0.08
7	0.98 ± 0.11	0.85 ± 0.09
8	1.28 ± 0.18	1.51 ± 0.13
9	0.74 ± 0.14	0.70 ± 0.11
10	0.95 ± 0.15	2.31 ± 0.09
14	4.4 ± 0.34	2.76 ± 0.21
15	0.81 ± 0.08	1.59 ± 0.11
16	1.18 ± 0.16	3.90 ± 0.06
BA-DCA	4.9 ± 0.2	15.89 ± 0.19
UA-DCA	>10	>20
BA	—	>25

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High cytotoxic activity against each of the cell lines was found for the betulinic acid conjugate 9 (IC₅₀ values of 0.70–0.74 μM). A considerable activity (<1 μM) was also inherent in the triphenylphosphonium salts of lupane triterpenoids with an acetate or a dichloroacetate function at the triterpenoid's C-3 atom: 6 and 7 against MCF-7 (IC₅₀ values of 0.80 μM and 0.85 μM) and 7, 10 and 15 against TET21N (IC₅₀ values of 0.98 μM, 0.95 μM, and 0.81 μM). Contrary to our expectations, the conjugation of the lupane and ursane triphenylphosphonium salts with dichloroacetate did not bring about a synergistic cytotoxicity. The cytotoxic activity of conjugate 7 against TET21N cells was comparable with that of conjugate 10, while the activity of 9 was even somewhat higher than that of 10 (Table 1). We did not find any noticeable difference between the anticancer activities of n-butyl- and triethylene glycol-bridged conjugates. The triterpenoid skeleton structure had a pronounced effect on the cytotoxicity of phosphonium salts. The antitumor activity of phosphonium lupane triterpenoid derivatives was markedly higher than the activities of the corresponding ursane derivatives, 14, 15 and 16. Betulinic acid and C(3)-dichloroacetyl betulinic and ursolic acid derivatives, BA-DCA and UA-DCA, exhibited markedly lower cytotoxicity than any of the triphenylphosphonium salts. At the concentrations we tested, these compounds were inactive: in the case of TET21N and MCF-7 cells, the IC₅₀ values were 4.91 μM and 15.89 μM for BA-DCA and >10 μM and >20 μM for UA-DCA, respectively.

However, the cytotoxic activity of the newly obtained triphenylphosphonium salts was comparable to their cytotoxic activity against normal mouse splenocytes. Thus the IC₅₀ values were 1.95 μM, 0.66 μM, 1.75 μM and 1.13 μM for compounds 6, 10, 14 and 16, respectively.

Because the antitumor activities of betulinic acid derivatives 6–10 were higher than the activities of the corresponding ursane conjugates 14–16, we have further focused on the ability of BA and its analogues to stimulate cancer cell death.

2.2.2. Analysis of mitochondrial respiration. Next, considering that the targets of BA are mitochondria, we analyzed their functional activity, in particular oxygen consumption, upon treatment of cells with BA and its analogs. Evaluation was performed using Seahorse Analyzer (Fig. 2). Oligomycin, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP synthetase, a protonophore CCCP, which dissipates the mitochondrial membrane potential allowing analysis of spare respiratory capacity, and inhibitors of mitochondrial respiratory chain, rotenone (complex I) and antimycin (complex III), were added consequently after assessment of basal respiration.

Fig. 2 Assessment of oxygen consumption by HCT116 (human colon carcinoma) cancer cells after incubation with betulinic acid and its derivatives, 7 (upper panel) and 9 (lower panel), for 24 hours.

As shown in Fig. 2, the derivatives of BA, 7 (upper panel) and 9 (lower panel), suppressed respiration in a concentration-dependent manner. At the same time, the same concentrations of BA were ineffective. These experiments clearly demonstrate mitochondrial involvement in triggering apoptosis by BA triphenylphosphonium derivatives.

2.2.3. Analysis of antitumor activity of BA derivatives. Since various cell lines can respond to treatment differently, first we analyzed how the cell lines used in our experiments respond to BA. This is important for choosing working concentrations allowing demonstration of the advantage of BA derivatives. Apoptosis was assessed by cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) – a nuclear enzyme involved in DNA repair and a well-known caspase-3 target. Caspases are a family of proteins, which are important for maintaining homeostasis through regulating cell death and inflammation. Among them, caspase-3 is one of the crucial mediators of programmed cell death, catalyzing the specific cleavage of many key cellular proteins during apoptosis. Since caspase-3 cleaves PARP, it is possible to assess the intensity of apoptosis by means of the quantity of cleaved 85 kDa fragments by using western blotting with anti-PARP antibodies.³⁴ All cell lines revealed different resistances to BA (Fig. 3A). The most sensitive were neuroblastoma Tet21N cells. For apoptosis stimulation in other cell lines, significantly higher concentrations of BA were needed. Based on these results, working concentrations of BA derivatives were chosen at which BA had a minimal effect on apoptosis induction.

Fig. 3 Stimulation of apoptosis (A) by BA in various tumor cell lines: HCT WT (human colon carcinoma cell line and RKO (human rectal carcinoma cell line, TET21N and SK-N-BE (2) (neuroblastoma cell lines); (B) release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol under the action of betulinic acid (BA) and its derivatives with a concentration of 3.5 μM; (C) activation of caspase-3 in HCT and TET21N cells by betulinic acid (BA) and its derivatives, 9 and BA-DCA. The mean values of three experiments ± standard error are given. The statistical significance of the differences was estimated using the Student's t-test, *<0.05, **<0.01; (D) cleavage of PARP by betulinic and ursolic acid derivatives. The assay was based on determining the content of the PARP cleavage product (cl-PARP). Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as the blot loading control.

As has been mentioned in the introduction, the caspase cascade is triggered by the release of cytochrome c. In order to prove that administration of BA and its analogs results in OMM permeabilization, assessment of cytochrome c release was performed (Fig. 3B). The content of cytochrome c in cytosol and mitochondria was assessed by western blotting after fractionation of HCT116 cells (see 4.2. Biology; 4.2.5.). As can be seen from the results, at 3.5 μM concentration BA failed to trigger the release of cytochrome c, whereas the triphenylphosphonium derivatives of BA were significantly more effective. These experiments clearly demonstrate mitochondrial involvement in triggering apoptosis by BA derivatives.

Next, we analyzed the ability of BA and its derivatives to stimulate caspase-3 activity in HCT116 and TET21 cells. DEVD-AMC was used as a fluorogenic substrate for caspase-3. In agreement with previous data, the results revealed that the triphenylphosphonium salt of betulinic acid 9 considerably surpassed betulinic acid in the caspase-3 activation (Fig. 3C). In addition, the advantage of the derivatives of BA was demonstrated by their ability to cleave PARP (Fig. 3D). The results clearly show that the antitumor activity of the original BA is markedly lower than that of some of its derivatives.

Finally, the antitumor activity of BA and its derivatives was analyzed by the assessment of cells with decreased DNA content. During apoptosis, DNA is cleaved by caspase-activated DNases (CAD), with formation of small fragments. The fragmented 182 bp DNA multimers leak out of the apoptotic cell upon fixation. This results in the appearance of a subpopulation of cells with a reduced DNA content, which can be detected upon staining with propidium iodide. An assessment of the SubG1 population in HCT116 cells is demonstrated in Fig. 4. BA did not stimulate cell death (second quadrant in the second row), whereas its several triphenylphosphonium derivatives, such as 6–9, triggered apoptosis. Thus, the advantage of triphenylphosphonium derivatives of BA in cell death stimulation was confirmed by a number of parameters.

Fig. 4 Apoptosis stimulated by betulinic acid (BA) and its derivatives in HCT116 carcinoma cells, shown as the percentage of cells with a reduced amount of DNA (SubG1 population, left part of each quadrant).

3. Conclusions

A range of anticancer agents named mitocans (an abbreviation formed from MITOchondria and CANcer) were shown to cause cell death via targeting mitochondria.³⁵ Thus, one of the mitocans, D-α-tocopherol succinate, a redox-silent analogue of vitamin E (α-TOS), induces multiple changes in tumor cells leading to cell death.³⁶ This compound was shown to selectively kill malignant cells at concentrations which are non-toxic to normal cells. This faculty of α-TOS was explained by its ability to produce ROS (more toxic to malignant cells due to lower antioxidant activity) via interaction with the respiratory chain of mitochondria. Non-malignant cells are protected from α-TOS due to higher levels of esterases which cleave α-TOS with formation of succinate and an antioxidant – α-tocopherol. In the case of BA, the mechanisms might be different, although mitochondrial involvement in cell death execution has been demonstrated by several groups.^14–17

Recently, conjugation with a lipophilic mitochondriotropic triphenylphosphonium cation (TPP⁺) has been actively used to enhance the effectiveness and selectivity of mitochondria-targeted anti-cancer agents.^37,38 Making a compound positively charged by coupling with TPP⁺ bearing three positive charges enhances mitochondrial targeting and allows decreasing doses of the drug. The triphenylphosphonium moiety was used to enhance the bioavailability and cytotoxic activity against cancer cells of such compounds as α-tocopheryl succinate,³⁹ curcuminoids,⁴⁰ alkyl gallates⁴¹ and the diterpenoid isosteviol.⁴² Selective accumulation of lipophilic cationic compounds in mitochondria is associated with the relatively high transmembrane potential of these organelles (Δψ 150–180 mV) in comparison with other organelles and cells. In addition, the transmembrane potential of mitochondria of solid tumor cells is higher than the transmembrane potential of normal cells, which can contribute to the selective cytotoxicity of antitumour substances.

Indeed, under the conditions of our experiments, conjugation of native triterpenoids, betulinic and ursolic acids with a TPP⁺ group led to the significant enhancement of cytotoxicity to MCF-7 and TET-21N cancer cells, when compared to BA. The mitochondriotropic analogues of BA were markedly superior to the native triterpenoid in triggering mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, as assessed by a range of apoptosis markers, such as cytochrome c release, stimulation of caspase-3 activity and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Thus, structural modifications of BA by conjugation with TPP⁺ markedly enhance its anticancer properties.

4. Experimental section

4.1. Chemistry

All reagents and solvents were of the purest grade available and generally were used without further treatment. The starting compounds betulinic, ursolic acids and reagents: LiBr, triethylene glycol, p-toluenesulfonyl chloride, PPh₃, 1,4-dibromobutane, dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), dichloroacetic acid, N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and acetonitrile were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, Europe. Triethylene glycol ditosylate was prepared by a reported method.³³ 3-Acetylbetulinic and 3-acetylursolic acids were synthesized from betulinic and ursolic acids according to the typical procedures. IR spectra were recorded on a Specord IR-75 spectrometer for neat samples or for solutions in CHCl₃. ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance-500 spectrometer (¹H, 500.13 MHz; ¹³C, 125.78 MHz) and on a Bruker Avance-400 spectrometer (¹H, 400.13 MHz; ¹³C, 100.62 MHz; ³¹P, 161.98 MHz) using Me₄Si as the internal standard and CDCl₃ as the solvent. Mass spectra were recorded on a Bruker-Autoflex III instrument in the MALDI-TOF regime with positive ionization recording using 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acids as matrices. Optical rotation was measured using a Perkin-Elmer-141 polarimeter. Elemental analysis was performed using a Carlo Erba 1106 analyzer. Sorbfil plates (Sorbpolimer, Krasnodar, Russia) were used for TLC, visualized with anisaldehyde/sulfuric acid. Silica gel L (50–160 lm, KSKG) was used for column chromatography.

4.1.1. General procedure for the synthesis of bromides 2, 4 and 12. Lithium bromide (2.00 g, 23.1 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of triethylene glycol ditosylate (4.00 g, 8.70 mmol) in acetone (40 mL), and the mixture was refluxed for 14–16 h. The resulting precipitate was filtered off, and acetone was removed under reduced pressure. The separated oily syrup was purified by column flash chromatography on silica gel [petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 30 : 1] to afford dibromide. Triethylene glycol dibromide (3 mmol) was added to a stirred suspension of BA or UA (1 mmol) in DMF (5 mL) and K₂CO₃ (1 mmol), and the mixture was kept at 50 °C for 3 h [TLC monitoring hexane/EtOAc 1 : 1]. The mixture was then poured into cold H₂O (10× volume) and extracted with CHCl₃ (2 × 15 mL each). The combined CHCl₃ layers were washed with H₂O (100 mL) and concentrated. The crude residue was co-evaporated with hexane (100 mL) to remove residual DMF. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel [hexane/EtOAc, 30 : 1], to obtain a pure compound.
8′-Bromo-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl-3β-acetoxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate (2). Amorphous powder, 49% yield; [α]²¹_D +12.42° (c 1.21, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1729 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.92, 0.97 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.78–2.28 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 1.69 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.05 (s, 3H, C̲H̲_3̲CO–), 2.96–3.05 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.47 (t, 2H, J = 6 Hz, H-8′), 3.65–3.73 (m, 6H, H-2′, H-4′, H-5′), 3.82 (t, 2H, J = 6 Hz, H-7′), 4.24–4.27 (m, 2H, H-1′), 4.45–4.49 (m, 1H, H-3), 4.61 (s, 1H, H-29), 4.74 (s, 1H, H-29); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.66 (C-27), 16.01 (C-26), 16.20 (C-25), 16.49 (C-24), 18.18 (C-6), 19.34 (C-30), 20.91 (C-11), 21.33 (C̲H̲_3̲CO–), 23.70 (C-12), 25.48 (C-2), 27.94 (C-23), 29.62 (C-15), 30.24 (C-8′), 30.56 (C-16), 32.09 (C-21), 34.27 (C-7), 37.01 (C-22), 37.10 (C-1), 37.80 (C-4), 38.22 (C-13), 38.40 (C-10), 40.72 (C-8), 42.40 (C-14), 46.98 (C-18), 49.40 (C-19), 50.45 (C-9), 55.42 (C-5), 56.54 (C-17), 62.78 (C-1′), 69.38, 70.50, 70.56, 71.27 (C-2′, C-4′, C-5′, C-7′), 80.91 (C-3), 109.65 (C-29), 150.55 (C-20), 170.99 (CH₃ C̲O–), 176.00 (C-28); anal. calcd. for C₃₈H₆₁BrO₆: C, 65.78; H, 8.86. Found: C, 65.74; H, 8.84.
8′-Bromo-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl-3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate (4). White crystals, 61% yield; mp 88–90 °C (EtOH); [α]²¹_D +5° (c 1.02, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 3447 (–OH), 1723 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.82, 0.83, 0.93, 0.93, 0.97 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.77–2.29 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 1.69 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.96–3.56 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.14–3.22 (m, 1H, H-3), 3.47–3.48 (m, 2H, H-8′), 3.67–3.72 (m, 6H, H-2′, H-4′, H-5′), 3.81 (t, 2H, J = 6.4 Hz, H-7′), 4.25–4.27 (m, 2H, H-1′), 4.61 (s, 1H, H-29), 4.74 (s, 1H, H-29); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.91 (C-27), 15.38 (C-26), 16.02 (C-25), 16.14 (C-24), 18.30 (C-6), 19.37 (C-30), 20.90 (C-11), 25.53 (C-12), 27.41 (C-2), 27.99 (C-23), 29.64 (C-21), 30.24 (C-8′), 30.61 (C-15), 32.11 (C-16), 34.35 (C-7), 37.02 (C-22), 37.19 (C-1), 38.25 (C-4), 38.72 (C-13), 38.86 (C-10), 40.71 (C-8), 42.41 (C-14), 46.96 (C-18), 49.41 (C-19), 50.55 (C-9), 55.35 (C-5), 56.55 (C-17), 62.79 (C-1′), 69.38, 70.50, 70.59, 71.27 (C-2′, C-4′, C-5′, C-7′), 78.94 (C-3), 109.59 (C-29), 150.58 (C-20), 176.01 (C-28); anal. calcd. for C₃₆H₅₉BrO₅: C, 66.34; H, 9.12. Found: C, 66.32; H, 9.13.
8′-Bromo-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl-3β-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oate (12). White crystals; 52% yield; mp 52–54 °C (EtOH); [α]²¹_D +49.92° (c 0.66, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 3448 (–OH), 1722 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.75, 0.77, 0.91, 0.98, 1.07 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.84 (d, 3H, J = 6 Hz, H-30), 0.93 (d, 3H, J = 6 Hz, H-29), 0.70–2.02 (m, 22H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 2.23 (d, 1H, J = 11.6 Hz, H-18), 3.18–3.22 (m, 1H, H-3), 3.46 (t, 2H, J = 6.4 Hz, H-8′), 3.65–3.67 (m, 6H, H-2′, H-4′, H-5′), 3.81 (t, 2H, J = 6.4 Hz, H-7′), 4.15 (t, 2H, J = 4.8 Hz, H-1′), 5.24 (br s, 1H, H-12); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 15.48 (C-25), 15.66 (C-24), 17.02 (C-26), 17.09 (C-29), 18.31 (C-6), 21.19 (C-30), 23.31 (C-11), 23.54 (C-27), 24.17 (C-16), 27.21 (C-2), 27.98 (C-15), 28.15 (C-23), 30.24 (C-8′), 30.66 (C-21), 33.04 (C-7), 36.61 (C-22), 36.95 (C-10), 38.63 (C-1), 38.74 (C-20), 38.83 (C-19), 39.04 (C-4), 39.54 (C-8), 42.03 (C-14), 47.53 (C-9), 48.05 (C-17), 52.82 (C-18), 55.21 (C-5), 63.22 (C-1′), 69.23, 70.52, 70.57, 71.26 (C-2′, H-4′, C-5′, H-7′), 78.94 (C-3), 125.59 (C-12), 138.07 (C-13), 177.42 (C-28); anal. calcd. for C₃₆H₅₉BrO₅: C, 66.34; H, 9.12. Found: C, 66.38; H, 9.11.
8′-Tosyl-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl-3β-acetoxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate (3). Prepared by a reported method.⁴² Triethylene glycol ditosylate (0.73 g, 1.6 mmol) was added to a stirred warm solution (50 °C) of betulinic acid (0.40 g, 0.8 mmol) in dry acetonitrile (12 mL). The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, and then K₂CO₃ (0.062, 2 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was heated at 70 °C for 7 h [TLC monitoring hexane/EtOAc 2 : 1], the precipitate was filtered off and acetonitrile was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel [hexane/EtOAc, 10 : 1 → 5 : 1], to obtain a pure compound. White crystals; 60% yield; mp 38–40 °C (EtOH); [α]^17.5_D +96° (c 0.49, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1727 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.91, 0.96 (3H each, all s, 3H, H-23–H-27), 0.78–2.26 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 1.69 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.05 (s, 3H, C̲H̲_3̲CO–), 2.46 (s, 3H, OTs-C̲H̲_3̲), 2.99–3.03 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.59 (s, 4H, H-4′, H-5′), 3.66, 3.70 (2H each, both t, J = 4.8 Hz, H-2′, H-7′), 4.16, 4.22 (2H each, both t, J = 4.8 Hz, H-1′, H-8′), 4.15–4.24 (m, 1H, H-3), 4.60 (s, 1H, H-29), 4.72 (s, 1H, H-29) 7.34, 7.80 (2H each, both d, J = 8 Hz, Ph); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.98 (C-27), 16.11 (C-26), 16.19 (C-25), 16.49 (C-24), 18.17 (C-6), 19.33 (C-30), 20.90 (C-11), 21.32 (C̲H̲_3̲CO–), 21.65 (OTs-C̲H̲_3̲), 23.69 (C-12), 25.47 (C-2), 27.94 (C-23), 29.60 (C-15), 30.56 (C-16), 32.07 (C-21), 34.26 (C-7), 36.98 (C-22), 37.09 (C-1), 37.79 (C-4), 38.21 (C-13), 38.39 (C-10), 40.71 (C-8), 42.39 (C-14), 46.98 (C-18), 49.38 (C-19), 50.44 (C-9), 55.42 (C-5), 56.53 (C-17), 62.72 (C-1′), 68.76, (C-8′), 69.18, 69.32, 70.45, 70.78 (C-2′, C-4′, C-5′, C-7′), 80.91 (C-3), 109.64 (C-29), 127.97, 129.82, 133.15, 145.20, (OTs-P̲h̲), 150.42 (C-20), 170.99 (CH₃C̲O–), 176.02 (C-28); anal. calcd. for C₄₅H₆₈O₈S: C, 68.84; H, 8.73. Found: C, 68.86; H, 8.71.

4.1.2. General procedure for the synthesis of bromides 1 and 11. 1,4-Dibromobutane (4 mmol) was added to a stirred suspension of BA or UA (1 mmol) in DMF (6 mL), acetonitrile (2 mL), and K₂CO₃ (1 mmol) and the mixture was kept at 50 °C for 3 h [TLC monitoring hexane/EtOAc 1 : 1]. The mixture was then poured into cold H₂O (10× volume) and extracted with CHCl₃ (2 × 15 mL each). The combined CHCl₃ layers were washed with H₂O (100 mL) and concentrated. The crude residue was co-evaporated with H₂O (100 mL) to remove residual DMF. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel [hexane/EtOAc, 30 : 1 → 1 : 1] to obtain a pure compound.
4-Bromobutyl-3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate (1). White crystals; 75% yield; mp 78–80 °C (EtOH); [α]²¹_D +27° (c 0.95, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 3448 (–OH), 1726 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.77, 0.83, 0.90, 0.92, 0.97 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.68–2.26 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton, 4H, H-2′, H-3′), 1.70 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.99–3.04 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.17–3.21 (m, 1H, H-3), 3.46 (t, 2H, J = 7 Hz, H-4′), 4.08–4.18 (m, 2H, H-1′), 4.61 (s, 1H, H-29), 4.75 (s, 1H, H-29); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.71 (C-27), 15.37 (C-26), 16.04 (C-25), 16.14 (C-24), 18.30 (C-6), 19.38 (C-30), 20.91 (C-11), 25.54 (C-12), 27.42 (C-2), 27.50 (C-3′), 27.99 (C-23), 29.50 (C-2′), 29.67 (C-21), 30.64 (C-15), 32.18 (C-16), 33.02 (C-4′), 34.35 (C-7), 37.05 (C-22), 37.20 (C-1), 38.32 (C-4), 38.73 (C-13), 38.86 (C-10), 40.72 (C-8), 42.42 (C-14), 46.01 (C-18), 49.42 (C-19), 50.56 (C-9), 55.36 (C-5), 56.57 (C-17), 62.84 (C-1′), 78.96 (C-3), 109.64 (C-29), 150.51 (C-20), 176.09 (C-28); anal. calcd. for C₃₄H₅₅O₃Br: C, 69.02; H, 9.37. Found: C, 69.12; H, 9.31.
4-Bromobutyl-3β-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oate (11). White crystals; 69% yield; mp 66–68 °C (EtOH); [α]²⁰_D +53.44° (c 0.36, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 3448 (–OH), 1719 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.76, 0.79, 0.93, 1.00, 1.09 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.88, 0.96 (3H each, both d, J = 6 Hz, H-29, H-30); 0.64–2.05 (m, 22H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton, 4H, H-2′, H-3′); 2.24 (d, 1H, J = 11 Hz, H-18), 3.23 (dd, 1H, J = 10.8, 4.8 Hz, H-3), 3.43 (t, 2H, J = 7 Hz, H-4′), 4.03 (m, 2H, H-1′), 5.26 (br s, 1H, H-12); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 15.50 (C-25), 15.63 (C-24), 17.02 (C-26), 17.16 (C-29), 18.32 (C-6), 21.18 (C-30), 23.30 (C-11), 23.56 (C-27), 24.23 (C-16), 27.23 (C-2), 27.33 (C-3′), 27.97 (C-15), 28.15 (C-23), 29.52 (C-2′), 30.67 (C-21), 33.05 (C-7), 33.10 (C-4′), 36.77 (C-22), 36.98 (C-10), 38.62 (C-1), 38.75 (C-20), 38.88 (C-19), 39.09 (C-4), 39.56 (C-8), 42.07 (C-14), 48.13 (C-9), 48.13 (C-17), 52.88 (C-18), 55.22 (C-5), 63.17 (C-1′), 79.03 (C-3), 125.62 (C-12), 138.23 (C-13), 177.44 (C-28). Anal. calcd. for C₃₄H₅₅O₃Br: C, 69.02; H, 9.37. Found: C, 69.11; H, 9.34.

4.1.3. General procedure for the synthesis of triphenylphosphonium salts 5, 7, 8, 9, 13 and 15. A mixture of triterpenoids 1–4, 11 or 12 (0.40 mmol), acetonitrile (13 mL) and Ph₃P (2 mmol) was refluxed for 20–35 h to prepare the triphenylphosphonium salts [TLC monitoring hexane/EtOAc 10 : 1]. The solution was cooled and the solvent was evaporated under vacuum. The solid product obtained was washed with hot hexane (2 × 10 mL), dissolved in EtOAc (2–4 mL), and diluted with hexane (12 ml). The precipitate was filtered to obtain the title product.
4-(Triphenylphosphonio)butyl-3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate bromide (5). White crystals; 79% yield; mp 150–152 °C (EtOH); [α]²¹_D −0.38° (c 1.85, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 3446 (–OH), 1718 (C=O); ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 24.49; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.73, 0.77, 0.79, 0.90, 0.94 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.63–2.12 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton, 4H, H-2′, H-3′), 1.63 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.87–2.89 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.15–3.18 (m, 1H, H-3), 3.96–4.13 (m, 4H, H-4′, H-1′), 4.56 (s, 1H, H-29), 4.66 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.69–7.86 (m, 15H, Ph); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.65 (C-27), 15.41 (C-26), 15.96 (C-25), 16.13 (C-24), 18.27 (C-6), 19.27 (C-30), 19.42 (d, J = 3 Hz, C-3′), 20.81 (C-11), 22.30 (d, J = 50 Hz, 4′), 25.41 (C-12), 27.37 (C-2), 27.99 (C-23), 29.28 (d, J = 17 Hz, 2′), 29.57 (C-21), 30.52 (C-15), 32.00 (C-16), 34.29 (C-7), 36.91 (C-22), 37.14 (C-1), 38.13 (C-4), 38.68 (C-13), 38.83 (C-10), 40.61 (C-8), 42.31 (C-14), 46.91 (C-18), 49.30 (C-19), 50.46 (C-9), 55.28 (C-5), 56.42 (C-17), 62.75 (C-1′), 78.81 (C-3), 109.70 (C-29), 117.85 (d, J = 85 Hz, Ph), 130.50 (d, J = 13 Hz, Ph), 133.70 (d, J = 10 Hz, Ph), 135.03 (br s, Ph), 150.37 (C-20), 175.91 (C-28); MS: m/z [M−Br]⁻, found 773.49. [C₅₂H₇₀BrO₃P]⁺ requires 852.42.
8′-(Triphenylphosphonio-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl)-3β-acetoxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate bromide (7). White crystals; 70% yield; mp 108–110 °C (EtOH); [α]¹⁸_D +9.6° (c 0.50, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1727 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 25.50; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.88, 0.94 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.76–2.25 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 1.67 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.02 (s, 3H, C̲H̲_3̲CO–), 3.28–3.29 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.33–3.40 (m, 6H, H-4′, H-5′, H-7′), 3.89–3.96 (m, 2H, H-8′), 4.07–4.19 (m, 4H, H-1′, H-2′), 4.43–4.47 (m, 1H, H-3), 4.59 (s, 1H, H-29), 4.70 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.64–7.83 (m, 15H, Ph); ¹³C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.64 (C-27), 16.02 (C-26), 16.20 (C-25), 16.48 (C-24), 18.16 (C-6), 19.26 (C-30), 20.89 (C-11), 21.31 (C̲H̲_3̲CO–), 23.66 (C-12), 25.42 (C-8′, J = 52 Hz), 25.43 (C-2), 27.92 (C-23), 29.59 (C-15), 30.51 (C-16), 32.03 (C-21), 34.26 (C-7), 36.98 (C-22), 37.08 (C-1), 37.77 (C-4), 38.19 (C-13), 38.36 (C-10), 40.70 (C-8), 42.38 (C-14), 46.98 (C-18), 49.33 (C-19), 50.41 (C-9), 55.39 (C-5), 56.51 (C-17), 62.50 (C-1′), 64.06 (C-7′, J = 7 Hz), 69.01, 69.85, 70.24 (C-2′, C-4′, C-5′), 80.88 (C-3), 109.75 (C-29), 118.91 (Ph, J = 86 Hz), 130.07 (Ph, J = 12.7 Hz), 134.04 (Ph, J = 10.2 Hz), 134.65 (Ph, J = 2.6 Hz), 150.40 (C-20), 171.01 (CH₃C̲O–), 175.88 (C-28); MS: m/z [M−Br]⁻, found 875.33. [C₅₆H₇₆BrO₆P]⁺ requires 954.46.
8′-(Triphenylphosphonio-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl)-3β-acetoxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate tosyl (8). White crystals; 91% yield; mp 59–61 °C (EtOH); [α]^17.5_D +7.5° (c 0.39, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1727 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 25.57; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.80, 0.82, 0.83, 0.89, 0.95 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.77–2.25 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 1.68 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.03 (s, 3H, CH₃CO–), 2.30 (s, 3H, OTs-CH₃), 2.96–2.99 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.26–3.38 (m, 6H, H-4′, H-5′, H-7′), 3.84–4.07 (m, 6H, H-1′, H-2′, H-8′), 4.44–4.48 (m, 1H, H-3), 4.60 (s, 1H, H-29), 4.71 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.05 (d, 2H, J = 2 Hz, Ph), 7.62–7.80 (m, 15H, Ph and 2H, OTs-P̲h̲); ¹³C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.65 (C-27), 16.02 (C-26), 16.21 (C-25), 16.49 (C-24), 18.17 (C-6), 19.28 (C-30), 20.90 (C-11), 21.29 (CH₃CO–), 21.32 (OTs-CH₃), 23.67 (C-12), 24.43 (C-8′, J = 54 Hz), 25.45 (C-2), 27.93 (C-23), 29.60 (C-15), 30.53 (C-16), 32.04 (C-21), 34.27 (C-7), 36.99 (C-22), 37.09 (C-1), 37.78 (C-4), 38.20 (C-13), 38.38 (C-10), 40.70 (C-8), 42.39 (C-14), 46.99 (C-18), 49.34 (C-19), 50.42 (C-9), 55.40 (C-5), 56.51 (C-17), 62.53 (C-1′), 63.06 (C-7′, J = 7.4 Hz), 68.97, 69.84, 70.08 (C-2′, C-4′, C-5′), 80.88 (C-3), 109.75 (C-29), 119.11 (Ph, J = 86 Hz), 130.00 (Ph, J = 12.7 Hz), 134.00 (Ph, J = 10.2 Hz), 134.53 (Ph, J = 2.6 Hz), 126.11, 128.32, 138.54, 144.31, (OTs-Ph), 150.41 (C-20), 171.01 (CH₃CO–), 175.89 (C-28); MS: m/z [M − TsO]⁻, found 875.32. [C₆₃H₈₃O₈PS]⁺ requires 1030.55.
9′-(Triphenylphosphonio-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl)-3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate bromide (9). White crystals; 69% yield; mp 95–97 °C (EtOH); [α]¹⁸_D +3.32° (c 0.62, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 3370 (−OH), 1722 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 25.45; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.72, 0.77, 0.86, 0.93, 0.94 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.64–2.19 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 1.65 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.93–2.95 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.15–3.17 (m, 1H, H-3), 3.15–3.39 (m, 6H, H-4′, H-5′, H-7′), 3.88–3.93 (m, 2H, H-8′), 4.06–4.14 (m, 4H, H-1′, H-2′), 4.57 (s, 1H, H-29), 4.69 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.64–7.83 (m, 15H, Ph); ¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.68 (C-27), 15.42 (C-26), 16.01 (C-25), 16.14 (C-24), 18.27 (C-6), 19.28 (C-30), 20.87 (C-11), 25.41 (C-8′, J = 52 Hz), 25.46 (C-12), 27.34 (C-2), 27.99 (C-23), 29.59 (C-21), 30.52 (C-15), 32.04 (C-16), 34.32 (C-7), 36.97 (C-22), 37.15 (C-1), 38.21 (C-4), 38.68 (C-13), 38.82 (C-10), 40.67 (C-8), 42.38 (C-14), 46.96 (C-18), 49.33 (C-19), 50.47 (C-9), 55.29 (C-5), 56.51 (C-17), 62.51 (C-1′), 64.06 (C-7′, J = 7 Hz), 69.01, 69.84, 70.24 (C-2′, C-4′, C-5′), 78.80 (C-3), 109.70 (C-29), 118.82 (Ph, J = 87 Hz), 130.07 (Ph, J = 12.7 Hz), 134.03 (Ph, J = 10.2 Hz), 134.69 (Ph, J = 2.6 Hz), 150.42 (C-20), 175.88 (C-28); MS: m/z [M−Br]⁻, found 833.32. [C₅₄H₇₄BrO₅P]⁺ requires 912.45.
4-(Triphenylphosphonio)butyl-3β-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oate bromide (13). White crystals; 85% yield; mp 166–168 °C (EtOH); [α]²⁰_D +3.02° (c 0.50, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 3367 (–OH), 1716 (C=O); ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 24.48; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.64, 0.77, 0.87, 0.98, 1.03 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.82, 0.93 (3H each, both d, J = 6 Hz, H-29, H-30), 0.67–2.10 (m, 22H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton, 4H, H-2′, H-3′), 2.08 (d, 1H, J = 10.4 Hz, H-18), 3.20 (dd, 1H, J = 10.4, 4.4 Hz, H-3), 3.94–4.08 (m, 4H, H-4′, H-1′), 5.07 (br s, 1H, H-12), 7.68–7.80 (m, 15H, Ph); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 15.47 (C-25), 15.67 (C-24), 17.01 (C-26), 17.02 (C-29), 18.29 (C-6), 19.43 (d, J = 3 Hz, C-3′), 21.16 (C-30), 22.30 (d, J = 50 Hz, 4′), 23.27 (C-11), 23.52 (C-27), 24.10 (C-16), 27.18 (C-2), 27.93 (C-15), 28.15 (C-23), 29.37 (d, J = 17 Hz, 2′), 30.59 (C-21), 32.95 (C-7), 36.66 (C-22), 36.91 (C-10), 38.60 (C-1), 38.72 (C-20), 38.84 (C-19), 38.95 (C-4), 39.44 (C-8), 41.96 (C-14), 47.45 (C-9), 48.00 (C-17), 52.82 (C-18), 55.15 (C-5), 62.85 (C-1′), 78.91 (C-3), 118.14 (d, J = 86 Hz, Ph), 125.46 (C-12), 130.51 (d, J = 13 Hz, Ph), 133.64 (d, J = 9 Hz, Ph), 135.03 (br s, Ph), 138.09 (C-13), 177.44 (C-28); MS: m/z [M−Br]⁻, found 773.49. [C₅₂H₇₀BrO₃P]⁺ requires 852.42.
8′-(Triphenylphosphonio-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl)-3β-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oate bromide (15). White crystals; 69% yield; mp 81–83 °C (EtOH); [α]¹⁸_D +28.61° (c 0.57, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 3151 (−OH), 1722 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 25.46; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.71, 0.75, 0.88, 0.96, 1.06 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0, 83 (d, 3H, J = 6 Hz, H-30), 0.93 (d, 3H, J = 6 Hz, H-29), 0.69–2.01 (m, 22H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 2.19 (d, 1H, J = 11.5 Hz, H-18), 3.19–3.21 (m, 1H, H-3), 3.27–3.36 (m, 6H, H-4′, H-5′, H-7′), 3.90–3.98 (m, 4H, H-2′, H-8′), 4.13–4.15 (m, 2H, H-1′), 5.24 (br s, 1H, H-12), 7.64–7.84 (m, 15H, Ph); ¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 15.48 (C-25), 15.69 (C-24), 17.02 (C-26), 17.12 (C-29), 18.29 (C-6), 21.15 (C-30), 23.29 (C-11), 23.50 (C-27), 24.18 (C-16), 25.42 (C-8′, J = 52 Hz), 27.18 (C-2), 27.96 (C-15), 28.15 (C-23), 30.61 (C-21), 33.03 (C-7), 36.66 (C-22), 36.93 (C-10), 38.59 (C-1), 38.72 (C-20), 38.85 (C-19), 39.01 (C-4), 39.52 (C-8), 42.03 (C-14), 47.46 (C-9), 48.07 (C-17), 52.86 (C-18), 55.15 (C-5), 62.92 (C-1′), 64.06 (C-7′, J = 7 Hz), 68.86, 69.87, 70.27 (C-2′, C-4′, C-5′), 78.86 (C-3), 118.81 (Ph, J = 87 Hz), 125.57 (C-12), 130.08 (Ph, J = 13 Hz), 134.07 (Ph, J = 10 Hz), 134.66 (Ph, J = 3 Hz), 138.06 (C-13), 177.38 (C-28); MS: m/z [M−Br]⁻, found 833.32 [C₅₄H₇₄BrO₅P]⁺ requires 912.45.

4.1.4. General procedure for the synthesis of triphenylphosphonium salts 6, 10, 14, 16 and derivatives BA-DCA and UA-DCA. Dichloroacetic acid (1.20 mmol) was added to a stirred suspension of derivatives 5, 9, 13, 15, BA or UA (1 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL), DMAP (0.13 mmol), and DCC (1.20 mmol); the mixture was kept at room temperature for 2–7 h [TLC monitoring CHCl₃/MeOH, 5 : 1], the precipitate was filtered off and CH₂Cl₂ was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel [CHCl₃/MeOH, 50 : 1 → 5 : 1], to obtain a pure compound.
4′-(Triphenylphosphonio)butyl-3β-dichloroacetoxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate bromide (6). White crystals; 70% yield; mp 123–125 °C (EtOH); [α]^17.5_D +4.3° (c 0.53, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1722 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 24.56; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.80, 0.81, 0.86, 0.87, 0.90 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.75–2.11 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton, 4H, H-2′, H-3′), 1.63 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.86–2.88 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.90–4.13 (m, 4H, H-4′, H-1′), 4.54–4.55 (m, 2H, H-29, H-3), 4.66 (s, 1H, H-29), 5.92 (s, 1H, CH̲Cl₂CO–), 7.68–7.85 (m, 15H, Ph); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.61 (C-27), 15.95 (C-26), 16.14 (C-25), 16.34 (C-24), 18.03 (C-6), 19.23 (C-30), 19.50 (d, J = 3 Hz, C-3′), 20.85 (C-11), 22.30 (d, J = 50 Hz, 4′), 23.19 (C-12), 25.32 (C-2), 27.81 (C-23), 29.34 (d, J = 17 Hz, 2′), 29.54 (C-21), 30.49 (C-15), 31.97 (C-16), 34.15 (C-7), 36.90 (C-22), 37.04 (C-1), 38.05 (C-4), 38.20 (C-13), 38.21 (C-10), 40.62 (C-8), 42.32 (C-14), 46.90 (C-18), 49.26 (C-19), 50.36 (C-9), 55.33 (C-5), 56.39 (C-17), 62.72 (C-1′), 64.81 (C̲HCl₂CO–), 84.93 (C-3), 109.77 (C-29), 118.15 (d, J = 85 Hz, Ph), 130.53 (d, J = 12.4 Hz, Ph), 133.66 (d, J = 10 Hz, Ph), 135.07 (br s, Ph), 150.31 (C-20), 164.29 (CHCl₂C̲O–), 175.88 (C-28); MS: m/z [M−Br]⁻, found 883.51. [C₅₄H₇₀BrCl₂O₄P]⁺ requires 962.36.
8′-(Triphenylphosphonio-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl)-3β-dichloroacetoxylup-20(29)-en-28-oate bromide (10). White crystals; 82% yield; mp 98–100 °C (EtOH); [α]^17.5_D +8.4° (c 0.49, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1722 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 25.49; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.83, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.94 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.77–2.21 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 1.66 (s, 3H, H-30), 2.93–2.97 (m, 1H, H-19), 3.27–3.39 (m, 6H, H-4′, H-5′, H-7′), 3.90–4.15 (m, 6H, H-2′, H-8′, H-1′), 4.54–4.57 (m, 2H, H-3, H-29), 4.69 (s, 1H, H-29), 5.91 (s, 1H, CH̲Cl₂CO–), 7.64–7.80 (m, 15H, Ph); ¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.64 (C-27), 15.99 (C-26), 16.16 (C-25), 16.33 (C-24), 18.05 (C-6), 19.26 (C-30), 20.91 (C-11), 23.19 (C-12), 25.25 (C-8′, J = 52 Hz), 27.38 (C-2), 27.80 (C-23), 29.56 (C-21), 30.49 (C-15), 32.00 (C-16), 34.19 (C-7), 36.96 (C-22), 37.06 (C-1), 38.15 (C-4), 38.21 (C-13), 38.21 (C-10), 40.68 (C-8), 42.39 (C-14), 46.96 (C-18), 49.30 (C-19), 50.37 (C-9), 55.33 (C-5), 56.48 (C-17), 62.51 (C-1′), 64.03 (C-7′, J = 7 Hz), 64.81 (CHCl₂CO–), 69.01, 69.84, 70.23 (C-2′, C-4′, C-5′), 84.94 (C-3), 109.76 (C-29), 118.82 (Ph, J = 87 Hz), 130.00 (Ph, J = 12.7 Hz), 134.03 (Ph, J = 10.2 Hz), 134.67 (Ph, J = 2.6 Hz), 164.28 (CHCl₂CO–), 150.37 (C-20), 175.86 (C-28); MS: m/z [M−Br]⁻, found 943.59. [C₅₆H₇₄BrCl₂O₆P]⁺ requires 1022.38.
4′-(Triphenylphosphonio)butyl-3β-dichloroacetoxyurs-12-en-28-oate bromide (14). White crystals; 71% yield; mp 138–140 °C (EtOH); [α]^17.5_D +24.7° (c 0.63, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1721 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 24.52; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.65, 0.80, 0.90, 0.91, 1.03 (3H each, all s, H(23)–H(27)), 0.82, 0.92 (3H each, both d, J = 6 Hz, H-29, H-30), 0.67–2.10 (m, 22H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton, 4H, H-2′, H-3′), 2.08 (d, 1H, J = 10.4 Hz, H-18), 3.96–4.07 (m, 4H, H-4′, H-1′), 4.58–4.61 (m, 1H, H-3), 5.09 (br s, 1H, H-12), 5.94 (s, 1H, CH̲Cl₂CO–), 7.69–7.87 (m, 15H, Ph); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 15.49 (C-25), 16.60 (C-24), 17.00 (C-26), 17.04 (C-29), 18.07 (C-6), 19.36 (d, J = 3 Hz, C-3′), 21.16 (C-30), 22.36 (d, J = 50 Hz, 4′), 23.06 (C-2), 23.26 (C-11), 23.50 (C-27), 24.09 (C-16), 27.95 (C-15), 27.96 (C-23), 29.17 (d, J = 17 Hz, 2′), 30.57 (C-21), 32.82 (C-7), 36.64 (C-22), 36.80 (C-10), 38.10 (C-1), 38.11 (C-20), 38.84 (C-19), 38.94 (C-4), 39.45 (C-8), 41.96 (C-14), 47.38 (C-9), 47.97 (C-17), 52.81 (C-18), 55.21 (C-5), 62.80 (C-1′), 64.80 (C̲HCl₂CO–), 84.91 (C-3), 118.65 (d, J = 85.5 Hz, Ph), 125.26 (C-12), 130.12 (d, J = 12.4 Hz, Ph), 133.10 (d, J = 9.9 Hz, Ph), 134.98 (br s, Ph), 138.15 (C-13), 164.32 (CHCl₂C̲O–), 177.40 (C-28); MS: m/z [M−Br]⁻, found 883.54. [C₅₄H₇₀BrCl₂O₄P]⁺ requires 962.36.
8′-(Triphenylphosphonio-3′,6′-dioxaoctan-1′-yl)-3β-dichloroacetoxyurs-12-en-28-oate bromide (16). White crystals; 87% yield; mp 96–98 °C (EtOH); [α]^17.5_D +24.3° (c 0.61, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1722 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ³¹P NMR (161 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 25.52; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.72, 0.75, 0.88, 0.96, 1.06 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.83 (d, 3H, J = 6 Hz, H-30), 0.93 (d, 3H, J = 6 Hz, H-29), 0.70–2.13 (m, 22H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 2.19 (d, 1H, J = 11.5 Hz, H-18), 3.27–3.37 (m, 6H, H-4′, H-5′, H-7′), 3.90–3.98 (m, 4H, H-2′, H-8′), 4.14–4.15 (m, 2H, H-1′), 4.58–4.59 (m, 1H, H-3), 5.21 (br s, 1H, H-12), 5.93 (s, 1H, CH̲Cl₂CO–), 7.64–7.84 (m, 15H, Ph); ¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 15.51 (C-25), 16.60 (C-24), 17.03 (C-26), 17.09 (C-29), 18.08 (C-6), 21.14 (C-30), 23.05 (C-2), 23.29 (C-11), 23.47 (C-27), 24.15 (C-16), 25.42 (C-6′, J = 52 Hz), 27.95 (C-15), 27.94 (C-23), 30.59 (C-21), 32.90 (C-7), 36.64 (C-22), 36.81 (C-10), 38.11 (C-1), 38.10 (C-20), 38.84 (C-19), 39.00 (C-4), 39.52 (C-8), 42.04 (C-14), 47.38 (C-9), 48.06 (C-17), 52.84 (C-18), 55.21 (C-5), 62.92 (C-1′), 64.06 (C-5′, J = 7 Hz), 64.80 (C̲HCl₂CO–), 68.85, 69.86, 70.26 (C-2′–C-4′), 84.89 (C-3), 118.70 (d, J = 69 Hz, Ph), 125.33 (C-12), 129.10 (d, J = 10 Hz, Ph), 133.08 (d, J = 8 Hz, Ph), 134.67 (br s, Ph), 138.14 (C-13), 164.28 (CHCl₂C̲O–), 177.35 (C-28); MS: m/z [M−Br]⁻, found 943.59. [C₅₆H₇₄BrCl₂O₆P]⁺ requires 1022.38.
3β-Dichloroacetoxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (UA-DCA). White crystals; 71% yield; mp 258–260 °C (EtOH); [α]^17.5_D +75.5° (c 0.48, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1748 (C=O) cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.79, 0.92, 0.95, 0.99, 1.09 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.88 (d, 3H, J = 6 Hz, H-30), 0.97 (d, 3H, J = 6.5 Hz; H-29), 1.27–2.03 (m, 22H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 2.20 (d, 1H, J = 11 Hz, H-18), 4.62–4.65 (m, 1H, H-3), 5.25 (t, 1H, J = 3.5 Hz, H-12), 5.96 (s, 1H, CH̲Cl₂CO–); ¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 15.51 (C-25), 16.56 (C-24), 17.01 (C-26), 17.09 (C-29), 18.05 (C-6), 21.19 (C-30), 23.10 (C-2), 23.27 (C-11), 23.62 (C-27), 23.99 (C-16), 27.95 (C-15), 27.96 (C-23), 30.58 (C-21), 32.77 (C-7), 36.71 (C-22), 36.90 (C-10), 38.10 (C-1), 38.15 (C-20), 38.82 (C-19), 39.00 (C-4), 39.48 (C-8), 41.88 (C-14), 47.43 (C-9), 47.97 (C-17), 52.45 (C-18), 55.25 (C-5), 64.82 (C̲HCl₂CO–), 84.94 (C-3), 125.58 (C-12), 137.99 (C-13), 164.32 (CHCl₂C̲O–), 184.31 (C-28); anal. calcd. for C₃₂H₄₈Cl₂O₄: C, 67.71; H, 8.52. Found: C, 67.69; H, 8.49.
3β-Dichloroacetoxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (BA-DCA). White crystals; 65% yield; mp 267–269 °C (EtOH), lit.³² mp 269 °C; [α]^17.5_D +17.2° (c 0.58, CHCl₃); IR (CHCl₃) ν_max: 1742 (C=O) cm⁻¹, lit. 1745 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 0.89, 0.91, 0.92, 0.96, 1.00 (3H each, all s, H-23–H-27), 0.83–2.32 (m, 24H, CH, CH₂ in pentacyclic skeleton), 1.72 (s, 3H, H-30), 3.00–3.06 (m, 1H, H-19), 4.60–4.64 (m, 2H, H-29, H-3), 4.76 (s, 1H, H-29), 5.96 (s, 1H, CH̲Cl₂CO–); ¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 14.68 (C-27), 16.03 (C-26), 16.15 (C-25), 16.33 (C-24), 18.06 (C-6), 19.36 (C-30), 20.88 (C-11), 23.24 (C-2), 25.40 (C-12), 27.85 (C-23), 29.69 (C-21), 30.57 (C-15), 32.15 (C-16), 34.19 (C-7), 37.06 (C-22), 37.12 (C-1), 38.26 (C-4), 38.27 (C-13), 38.42 (C-10), 40.70 (C-8), 42.45 (C-14), 46.96 (C-18), 49.25 (C-19), 50.36 (C-9), 55.37 (C-5), 56.44 (C-17), 64.83 (C̲HCl₂CO–), 84.97 (C-3), 109.79 (C-29), 150.34 (C-20), 164.33 (CHCl₂C̲O–), 182.76 (C-28); anal. calcd. for C₃₂H₄₈Cl₂O₄: C, 67.71; H, 8.52. Found: C, 67.73; H, 8.54.

4.2. Biology (materials and methods)

4.2.1. Cells. The work was conducted exclusively on human cancer cell lines. Human Caucasian breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF7) and human Caucasian bone marrow neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-BE(2)) were purchased from the European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures (ECACC), human colon carcinoma (HCT116) cells were kindly provided by Professor Bert Vogelstein (Johns Hopkins Medical School), human colon carcinoma (RKO) and human colon neuroblastoma (Tet21N) cells were purchased from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Cells used in these experiments were cultured in RPMI 1640 complete medium (Tet21N and SK-N-BE(2) cells) or DMEM medium (HCT116 and RKO cells) supplemented with 10% (w/v) heat-inactivated fetal calf serum and penicillin/streptomycin (100 U ml⁻¹). For Tet21N cells, 100 μg ml⁻¹ hygromycin and 200 μg ml⁻¹ geneticin were also added to the medium. Cells were grown in a humidified air/CO₂ (5%) atmosphere at 37 °C and maintained in a logarithmic growth phase for all experiments. Suspensions of splenocyte cell lines were prepared by treating BALB/c mouse spleens in a glass homogenizer; the suspensions were filtered, washed with cold phosphate buffer saline (Mediatech), and resuspended in the culture medium, and the cell viability was estimated using the 0.1% trypan blue test. Suspensions containing at least 95% viable cells were used in experiments. The cells were cultured in the above-described medium.

4.2.2. Gel electrophoresis and western blot analysis. Cell were harvested, washed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and lysed for 10 min at room temperature in lysis buffer supplemented with complete protease inhibitors (Roche Diagnostics). Cell extracts were centrifuged at 13 000 rpm for 20 min at 4 °C to separate the insoluble material, followed by the determination of protein concentration using the BSA assay (Pierce). Equal amounts of protein from each sample were mixed with Laemmle's loading buffer, boiled for 5 min and subjected to SDS-PAGE. Membranes were blocked for 1 h with 5% non-fat milk in PBS at room temperature and subsequently probed with the primary antibody of interest. Blots were revealed either using the ECL Western Blotting Substrate (Promega, USA) or SuperSignal West Dura Extended Duration Substrate (Thermo Scientific, USA).

4.2.3. Assessment of oxygen consumption using a Seahorse XF-96 Analyzer. Approximately 15 000 cells per well were grown in 96-well plates (Seahorse Bioscience, Billerica, MA), allowed to adhere overnight, and treated with BA or its derivatives for 24 h. The cells were then washed with assay medium (for Mitotest: unbuffered DMEM supplemented with 5 mM glucose, 2 mM glutamine, pH 7.4) before incubation with assay medium (0.175 mL) for 1 h at 37 °C in a CO₂-free incubator. The following states of respiration were evaluated: basal respiration, proton leak after oligomycin injection, spare respiratory capacity after injection of the uncoupler CCCP (carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone), and non-mitochondrial respiration after injection of rotenone and antimycin A. The data were normalized to the total protein in each well.

4.2.4. Flow cytometric analysis of sub-G1 population. For the analysis of the SubG1 subpopulation, cells were harvested, fixed in 70% ethanol overnight and stained with propidium iodide (PI) solution (50 mg PI ml⁻¹, 0.1% (w/w) Triton X-100 and 0.1% (w/w) Na-citrate in PBS in the presence of RNase A (0.5 mg ml⁻¹ at 37 °C for 30 min). The analysis was carried out using a FACS Canto II flow cytometer equipped with BD Bioscience software (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, CA).

4.2.5. Assessment of cytochrome c release. Cells were harvested, spun down and resuspended in a buffer containing 150 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl₂, 0.2 mM EGTA, 5 mM Tris, and 0.01% of the mild detergent digitonin (approx. 1 × 10⁶ in 100 μl). After 10 min incubation at room temperature, the supernatant and the pellet were separated by centrifugation. The supernatant was transferred into another tube and the pellet was resuspended in the same volume of the same buffer. Samples were mixed with Laemmle's loading buffer, boiled for 5 min, and subjected to 15% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as described above.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

This work was performed under financial support from the Russian Science Foundation (Grant 16-13-10051). A part of this work (Analysis of mitochondrial respiration and Analysis of antitumor activity of BA derivatives, Fig. 2–4) was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (14-25-00056).

Notes and references

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Footnote

† Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7md00248c

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