Manganese(III)-Mediated Intermolecular Cyclization Reactions of Alkenes and Active Methylene Compounds.

The reactions of 1,1-diphenylethene, 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethene, 1,1-bis(4-methylphenyl)ethene, and 1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethene with 3,5-diacetyl-2,6-heptanedione in the presence of manganese(III) acetate in acetic acid at 80° yielded 4,6-diacetyl-8,8-diaryl-1,3-dimethyl-2,9-dioxabicyclo[4.3.0]non-3-enes (41-48%), 5-acetyl-2,2-diaryl-6-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furans (20–21%), 3-acetyl-5,5-diaryl-2-methyl-4,5-dihydrofurans (5–10%), and benzophenones (3–7%). Similarly, the reactions of 1,1-diarylethenes with dimethyl 2,4-diacetyl-1,5-pentanedioate or diethyl 2,4-diacetyl-1,5-pentanedioate gave the corresponding 4,6-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)-8,8-diaryl-1,3-dimethyl-2,9-dioxabicyclo[4.3.0]non-3-enes in moderate yields.