The natural product platensimycin shows antibacterial activity by selectively inhibiting the FabF/B enzyme responsible for fatty acid biosynthesis in bacteria. With such biological novelty, its asymmetric synthesis is important for further clinical development and testing. Our group is currently engaged in the total synthesis of platensimycin and we envision the construction of the quaternary center by iterative C-H insertion reactions, followed by a late stage etherification and ozonolysis/aldol sequence to provide the tetracyclic core.