A concise and efficient total synthesis of (±)-cephalosol has been completed (5 steps from known ester 5, 39% overall yield), featuring a Cu(II)-promoted haloisocoumarin formation and sequential Suzuki cross-coupling/intramolecular oxo-Michael addition. ... Herein, we wish to disclose our studies in developing a new convergent total synthesis. We envisioned that 1 could be constructed from 2 by allylic oxidation followed by a selective ether cleavage. Tricycle 2 should be ...