A concise total synthesis of BE-12406 A (3a) was achieved. The key step was the selective O-glycosylation of naphthol 4 with L-rhamnopyronosyl fluoride 5, employing Cp(2)HfCl(2)-AgClO4 in fluorobzenene at -20 degrees C in the presence of a hindered base 9, affording O-glycoside 8 in good yield.