Synthesis of thaxtomin C

N-Methyl-L-4-nitrotryptophan methyl ester (2) and t-Boc- L-phenylalanine (3) were condensed to form the dipeptide 4, which was then cyclized to give 12-N-methylcyclo-(L-4-nitrotryptophyl-L-phenylalanyl) (1), a.k.a. thaxtomin C, the principle phytotoxin associated with Streptomycesipomoeae. Keywords: Streptomycesipomoeae, phytotoxin, thaxtomin C.