Herein, we describe a new convergent synthesis of a more potent analogue of clasto-lactacystin beta-lactone (2), PS-519 compound 4, which is currently in preclinical development for the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury in stroke and myocardial infarction. The synthetic strategy relies on building two intermediates (an oxazoline and an aldehyde) which are joined through a doubly diastereoselective aldol reaction, setting up the requisite unichiral centers in the final product (4). The facial selectivity and ultimate stereocontrol are achieved by employing a trivalent aluminum Lewis acid, Me2AlCl, in a chelation-induced reaction which yields a single aldol adduct. The efficiency of the synthetic approach has allowed for the preparation of multigram quantities of clinical grade material, which will support Phase I studies.