Synthesis of methyl 2-cyano-3,12-dioxo-18β-olean-1,9(11)-dien-30-oate analogues to determine the active groups for inhibiting cell growth and inducing apoptosis in leukemia cells.

Fourteen of the methyl 2-cyano-3,12-dioxo-18β-olean-1,9(11)-dien-30-oate (CDODO-Me-12, 10d) analogues with different structures of ring C were synthesized to determine the active groups for inhibiting cell growth and inducing apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells. An unsaturated group in ring C was required to maintain the ability to inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis. Compound 10e with 9(11),12-dien in ring C displayed comparable apoptosis induction ability to 10d associated with decreased levels of c-FLIP, but not Mcl-1 and XIAP. Compound 10e had decreased ability to deplete GSH compared to compound 10d. Compound 10e represents a new active compound acting through a different mechanism from that of compound 10d.