Total Synthesis and Structural Reassignment of the Molt-Inhibiting Marine Alkaloid Erebusinone.

The marine alkaloid erebusinone is a secondary metabolite isolated from the Antarctic sponge . Initial biological assays have shown that erebusinone increases amphipod mortality, probably by inhibition of the biosynthesis of molting hormone (ecdysone). Herein, we report the first total synthesis of the proposed structure of erebusinone and a structural revision.