A total synthesis of atroviridin (1) based on biosynthetic principles is presented. The tetracyclic xanthone structure of the natural product was constructed by coupling aryl bromide 8 with aldehyde 7 and subsequent intramolecular conjugate addition on a quinone precursor. Bromide 8 was produced from aldehyde 9 via a sequence of steps involving Baeyer–Villiger oxidation and Claisen cyclization.