Diastereodivergent synthesis the C9-cyclopentanone chiral building block, serving as the non-tryptamine moiety of the Corynanthe type indole alkaloids and the related natural products, and its diastereomer has been developed from racemic norcamphor by employing lipase-mediated resolution via an allylic acetate intermediate having a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane framework. A potential of the latter diastereomer has been demonstrated by its conversion into (-)-semburin, a monoterpene isolated from Swertia japonica previously and obtained from the C9-block.