Templated Total Synthesis of Cu(I)‐Methanobactin OB3b**

Abstract

Methanobactin OB3b (Mbn‐OB3b) is a unique natural product with stunning affinity for copper ions (Ka ≈ Cu(I) 1034). Here, we report the first total synthesis of Cu(I)‐bound methanobactin OB3b featuring as key transformations a cyclodehydration‐thioacylation sequence, to generate the conjugated heterocyclic systems, and a copper‐templated cyclization, to complete the caged structure of the very sensitive target compound.