A six-step synthesis of rhopaloic acid A (1E) was accomplished in 25% overall yield using the Pd(II)-mediated cyclization and methoxycarbonylation of allenyl alcohol 3, which affords 83% of a 6:1 mixture of tetrahydropyranylacrylates 2 and 8, as the key step. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.