Functionalization of terpene alcohols with 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles: synthesis of N-(2-terpenyloxyethenyl/ethyl)sulfonamides

New N-(2-aryl-2-terpenyloxyethenyl)sulfonamides bearing two pharmacophoric terpenyloxy and sulfonamide groups linked through an ethylene bridge were synthesized by the reaction of p-menthol, allobetulin or isoborneol with 4-aryl-1-arylsulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles in the presence of rhodium(II) pivalate. A significant part of the compounds obtained possessed low stability, which necessitated their hydrogenation into more stable N-(2-aryl-2-terpenyloxyethyl)-sulfonamides. Some of the synthesized compounds exhibited high antibacterial and moderate cytotoxic activity.