The total synthesis of nominal cyclocinamide B, a cyclic peptide marine natural product, is reported together with an isomer of nominal cyclocinamide A. Initial attempts at the synthesis of the title compounds by inclusion of a turn inducer failed. However, direct synthesis succeeded in formation of the 14-membered cyclic peptide structure. Comparison of the data from all synthetic cyclocinamide A and B compounds with those of the natural products leads to the conclusion that the two natural products possess the same relative stereochemistry and that the true structures have not been defined.
Keywords: cyclic peptide; natural product synthesis; peptide synthesis; β-amino acids.