Towards the Shell Biorefinery: Sustainable Synthesis of the Anticancer Alkaloid Proximicin A from Chitin

Abstract A shell biorefinery would involve fractionation of crustacean shells and incorporation of the components into value‐added products, particularly those that contain nitrogen. In a proof‐of‐concept study that validates this concept, the anticancer alkaloid proximicin A has been synthesized from the chitin‐derived platform chemical 3‐acetamido‐5‐acetylfuran (3A5AF). This study accentuates the leading role chitin is likely to play in the sustainable production of nitrogen‐containing fine chemicals that are not directly attainable from lignocellulose.