Synthesis of 28-19F-amphotericin B methyl ester

A fluorinated amphotericin B (AmB) derivative, 28-19F-AmB methyl ester (3), labeled at the polyene moiety, was synthesized by combining chemical synthesis with degradation of a natural product via cross-coupling reactions and macrolactonization. The fluorinated derivative 3 showed antifungal activity similar to that of AmB, and is expected to be a powerful tool for NMR-based investigation of the mechanism of ion-channel formation.