The intact aromatic chromophore of rifamycinS, 7-amino-2,5-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethyl-naphtho[2,1-b]furan-1,6,9(2H)-trione, was synthesized through the rifamycin W aromatic segment, 1-[5,8-dimethoxy-2,4-bis(methoxymethoxy)-3-methyl-6-nitro-1-naphthyl]-1-propanone which was prepared in 9 steps and 29.6% overall yield from 2,6-bis(benzyloxy)-3,5-dibromotoluene and furan.