The recognition of latent symmetry in delavatine A has enabled a short synthesis of the natural product starting from 3,5,dibromo-2-pyrone. The concise synthetic route features a cascade process involving a 6 pi electrocyclization to construct the indane core of delavatine A. In addition, we have conducted detailed experimental and computational studies to gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of the observed site-selective cross-coupling of 3,5-dibromo-2-pyrone. This insight may provide new avenues to achieve the selective cross-coupling of multiply halogenated heteroarenes.