First total synthesis of mycothiol and mycothiol disulfide.

[reaction: see text] The first total synthesis of mycothiol and mycothiol disulfide was achieved by linking D-2,3,4,5,6-penta-O-acetyl-myo-inositol, O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl)-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha,beta-D-glucopyranosyl) trichloroacetimidate, and N,S-diacetyl-L-cysteine and deprotecting peracetylated mycothiol. The first full spectral characterization is reported for underivatized mycothiol. The structure of mycothiol was confirmed by spectral analysis of the known bimane derivative.