Backbone rearrangements of methyl (-)-kaur-9(11)-en-19-oate and its epoxide: structures of two diterpenes of a new skeletal type

cleavage of the epoxide ($\text{2}$) of methyl (-)-kaur-9(11)-en-19-oate ($\text{1b}$) with boron trifluoride-ether in benzene and in acetic anhydride yielded ($\text{3a}$) and ($\text{3b}$), respectively. On epoxidation with $\text{m}$-chloroperbenzoic acid in the presence of $\text{N}$-nitrosomethyl urea, ($\text{1b}$) suffered a backbone rearrangement to form ($\text{6}$).