The unambiguous synthesis of the lichen depsides, anziaic, perlatolic, 2'- O -methylanziaic, 2- O - methylperlatolic, 2'- O -methylperlatolic, 4- O -demethylplanaic, planaic, imbricaric and stenosporic acids is reported. Where necessary the phenolic and carboxy groups of the intermediate phenols were protected by O -benzylation until after the depside-ester bond formation had been achieved by treatment with trifluoroacetic anhydride. Catalytic hydrogenolysis of the depside esters so formed subsequently gave the natural acids.