Chemical transformation studies were conducted on betulin and betulinic acid, common plant-derived lupane-type triterpenes. The concise synthesis, via a stepwise approach, of betulin and betulinic acid carbamate and N-acylheterocyclic containing derivatives is described. All new compounds, as well as betulinic acid were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activity. Most of the compounds have shown a better cytotoxic profile than betulinic acid, including the synthesized betulin derivatives. Compounds 25 and 32 were the most promising derivatives, being up to 12-fold more potent than betulinic acid against human PC-3 cell lines (IC(50) values of 1.1 and 1.8 microM, respectively).