An expeditious totalsynthesis of the highly cytotoxic F‐ATPase inhibitor cruentaren A (1) is described based on a ring‐closing alkynemetathesis (RCAM) reaction for the formation of the macrocylic ring. Other key transformations comprise a C‐acylation of the benzyl lithium reagent derived from orsellinic acid ester 9 with Weinreb amide 7, a CBS reduction of the resulting ketone 10, and a Soderquist