The first total synthesis and stereochemical assignment of cytoblastin were reported. Key steps included the palladium-mediated coupling of N-SEM-7-bromoindolactam V ((-)-11) with allylstannane c-13, and osmium tetroxide-mediated dihydroxylation of 14, both of which were stereoselective. The stereochemistry of cytoblastin was determined as 1A via spectroscopic analysis of the pentacyclic derivative 21 of cytoblastin. A connection was then made between the stereochemistry so elucidated and the Kishi/Rando hypothesis for the structural correlation between (S)-1,2-diacylglycerol and tumor promoters for the process of protein kinase C activation.