First synthesis of blastidic acid, a component amino acid in an antibiotic, blasticidin S

Blastidic acid, a component amino acid in an antibiotic, blasticidin S, was synthesized for the first time from α,γ-diaminobutyric acid. The synthesis was achieved through elongation of the carbon chain of the starting amino acid, and N-methylation and amidination of an ω-amino group.