Total synthesis of exigurin: the Ugi reaction in a hypothetical biosynthesis of natural products.

The first total synthesis of a marine natural product, exigurin, has been accomplished in 13 steps starting from (+)-menthone. The key intermediate (-)-10-epi-axisonitrile-3 was prepared by stereoselective intramolecular cyclopropanation followed by a cyclopropane ring opening reaction by the azide anion. The bioinspired Ugi reaction of (-)-10-epi-axisonitrile-3, formaldehyde, sarcosine and methanol successfully constructed the target exigurin in which its terpene and amino acid units were linked through an amide bond.