A Concise Semi-Synthetic Approach to Betulinic Acid from Betulin

Betulin was convert to betulinic acid using two different synthetic routes. The first approach involved an oxidation of betulin using Jones' reagent to betulonic acid and subsequent NaBH4 reduction to betulinic acid. The second approach involved steps utilizing different protecting groups on the alcohol functional groups of betulin and Jones' oxidation to circumvent the isomerization of the secondary alcohol of betulinic...