Synthesis and Cytotoxicity of Conjugates of Betulinic Acid and F-Containing 2-Acylcycloalkane-1,3-Diones

Conjugates of betulinic acid with 2-(fluoroacyl)cycloalkane-1,3-dione motifs were synthesized by reacting 3-chloro-2-(fluoroacyl)-2-cycloalkene-1-ones with an equivalent amount of betulinic acid aminoalkylamide hydrochlorides in the presence of Et3N in CHCl3. Reduction of betulonic acid conjugates with 2-trifluoroacetylcyclopentane-1,3-dione by NaBH4 in THF produced betulinic acid derivatives containing 2-(1-hydroxy-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)cyclopentane-1,3-dione. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was assessed against glioblastoma multiforme (U-87 MG) and breast cancer cell lines (MCF7).