Parallel kinetic resolution approach to the cyathane and cyanthiwigin diterpenes using a cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement

Parallel effort: Stereodivergent parallel kinetic resolution of a racemic mixture of dienes using Davies' [Rh(2){(S)-dosp}(4)] or [Rh(2){(R)-dosp}(4)] catalysts promotes a tandem vinyl diazoacetate cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement sequence to afford two diastereomeric, enantioenriched cycloheptadienes, which correspond to the natural antipodes of the title diterpenoids (see scheme).