We report the first total synthesis of the complex C-aryl glycoside isokidamycin, the epimer of the naturally-occurring pluramycin antibiotic kidamycin. The synthesis features a highly efficient Diels-Alder reaction between a substituted naphthyne and a glycosylated furan to form the anthracene core bearing a pendent angolosamine C-glycoside. The regiochemical outcome of the Diels-Alder reaction was controlled by employing a disposable silicon tether to link the reactive naphthyne and the glycosyl furan, rendering the cycloaddition intramolecular. The benzopyranone moiety of the aromatic nucleus was appended by cyclization of a functionalized vinylogous amide onto an advanced anthrol intermediate. The vancosamine amino glycoside was introduced by an O -> C-glycoside rearrangement that produced the beta-anorner. Subsequent refunctionalizations then led to isokidamycin. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.