Desymmetrization of 2,4,5,6-Tetra-O-benzyl-D-myo-inositol for the Synthesis of Mycothiol

Abstract

An efficient chemical synthesis of mycothiol Involving the regioselective ketopinyl desymmetrization of 2,4,5,6-tetrabenzylated D-myo-inositol as the key step Is described. Together with a highly alpha-stereoselective D-glucosaminylation, the whole procedure was accomplished in eight steps with an overall yield of 40%.