Regioselective radical addition of 3-oxopropanenitriles with terminal dienes promoted by cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate and manganese(III) acetate

Radical addition of 3-oxopropanenitriles to 1,3-butadiene derivatives promoted by (NH4)2Ce(NO2)6 and Mn(OAc)3 afforded 5-ethenyl-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carbonitriles in low to good yields. These dihydrofurans were characterised by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HRMS spectra. All radical additions performed via CAN and Mn(OAc)3 were occurred on the terminal double bond on dienes. A mechanism for the formation of the dihydrofurans was proposed.