In contrast to a biomimetic electrophilic cyclisation cascade, we employ a contra-biomimetic nucleophilic cyclisation cascade to give the tricyclic core of 4-hydroxy-GR24 in a single step. Kinetic resolution using a stereoselective Noyori transfer hydrogenation enables the concise synthesis of any enantiomerically enriched 4-hydroxy-GR24 stereoisomer.