Non-nucleoside RdRp inhibitors: A family of unprecedented farnesylated dimethylbenzimidazoles called the sandacrabins have been discovered from a new myxobacterial Sandaracinus species. Despite their structural similarity, they exhibit distinct antiviral and insecticidal activities. This study describes their structure elucidation, biosynthetic origin, total synthesis and inhibition of the RNA synthesis as their antiviral mode of action.