Synthesis and cytotoxic activity evaluation of dihydrocucurbitacin B and cucurbitacin B derivatives

Semi-synthetic transformations were performed at positions 2, 3, 7, 16, 20, 22, and 25 on dihydrocucurbitacin B (1) and cucurbitacin B (2). Novel twenty-nine semisynthetic compounds, as well as 1 and 2 were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic effects on non-small-cell lung cancer cells (A549 cells).