(-)-Akagerine (1) was synthesized in an efficient and stereocontrolled fashion from the readily available (1S,2R)-cyclohexenedimethanol monoacetate 4. Key steps were the cleavage of the C(17)/C(18) bond of 14a and the regio- and stereoselective cyclization of the dialdehyde 16 to give the tetracyclic skeleton of akagerine.