An efficient, convergent approach for the total synthesis of microcarpalide (1) is described. The synthetic strategy features the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, regioselective epoxide opening with various nucleophiles such as a lithium acetylide and cuprates derived from the vinyl stannane and the vinyl iodide for the construction of a C7-C8 trans-double bond and Yamaguchi macrolactonization as the key steps.