The stereoselective total synthesis of methyl (3R,4S,5S,6R)6-chloro-3,4,5-trihydroxy-1-cyclohex-1-enecarboxylate (1), which had been reported as the antitumour marine natural product pericosine A, from (-)-quinic acid was achieved. From the total synthesis, it was confirmed that the reported stereostructure of pericosine A was incorrect because the spectroscopic data of the synthetic product were not identical with those of the natural compound.