Abstract Herein we report the stereoselective total synthesis of Exserolide F. The key step involves triflic acid catalyzed highly regioselective intramolecular cyclization of an O-alkynyl benzoicacid derivative to accomplish the core isocoumarin skeleton of the natural product via 6-endo-dig mode of cyclization. The other important steps are: Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, Barbier propargylation