The first enantioselective total synthesis of a neurotrophic (-)-talaumidin (1) is described in 16 steps from 4-benzyloxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde in ca. 10.7% overall yield, and thus has established the absolute configurations of the four stereogenic centers C-2 similar to C-5 of 1. The synthesis features the construction of the two successive chiral centers C-2 and C-3 by Evans asymmetric antialdol protocol as well as of the two chiral centers C-4 and C-5 in a highly stereocontrolled fashion by hydroboration/oxidation and epimerization, followed by Friedel-Crafts arylation. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.