Abstract: OBJECTIVE To introduce the background of atorvastatin calcium, action mechanism and the current synthetic progress. METHODS To review both domestic and international published reports regarding the synthesis of atorvastatin calcium. RESULTS To make a list of three synthetic routes of atorvastatin calcium with the emphasis on describing and analyzing the practically important synthetic method-Paal-Knorr synthesis method. CONCLUSION The development of the synthetic methods for two important intermediates provides us new ways and strategies for efficient synthesis atorvastatin calcium.