A highly efficient, asymmetric synthesis of blastidic acid: the β-amino acid component of the antibiotic, (+)-blasticidin S

A new approach for the asymmetric synthesis of blastidic acid, the β-amino acid component of the antibiotic, (+)-blasticidin S has been achieved in 11 steps and 30% overall yield. The key transformations involve a one-pot Swern/Wittig reaction sequence to prepare the carbon backbone followed by a stereoselective conjugate addition to introduce the β-amino functionality.