Reaction of 4-mercaptocinnamic acid (I) with 2-chloroethanol in the presence of NaOH afforded the hydroxyethyl sulfide (II), which was converted into the chloroethyl derivative (III) upon treatment with mesyl chloride and 37% HCl in hot pyridine. Coupling of carboxylic acid (III) with desformyldistamycin (IV) by means of DCC and HOBt gave rise to the title amide.