A novel three-step synthesis of the highly functionalized antifungal agent CANCIDAS (caspofunginacetate,
2) is described, starting from the natural product pneumocandin B
0 (
1). The highlights of thesynthesis include a stereoselective formation of a phenylthioaminal, a remarkable chemoselective, high-yielding, one-step borane reduction of a primary amide, and a stereoselective substitution of thephenylthioaminal with ethylenediamine producing
2 in a 45% overall yield.