Synthesis of methotrexate-betulonic acid hybrids and evaluation of their effect on artificial and Caco-2 cell membranes.

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of novel methotrexate-betulonic acid hybrids with a (tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-3,6-dioxa-8-octanamine (Boc-DOOA) linkage has been developed. Reaction of N-(2-(2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)-betulonamide with methotrexate resulted in a mixture of isomeric conjugates which were separated by column chromatography. Their structures and composition have been fully established by H NMR, C spectra, FAB mass spectrometry and elemental analysis.