An enantioselective total synthesis of the naturally occurring anticancer agent (-)-laulimalide is described. The synthesis is characterized by extensive use of new reaction methodologies based on catalytic asymmetric acyl halide-aldehyde cyclocondensation (AAC) reactions and transformations of the derived enantioenriched beta-lactones. The synthesis also incorporates a unique allenylstannane glycal acetate alkylation and chemoselective ring-closing metathesis reaction.