The microwave-assisted synthesis of 5-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-2, 3- dihydrofuran (5a) was performed via manganese (III) acetate based oxidative cyclization of 1- (4-nitrophenyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl) ethanone (3a) with vinylbenzene (4a). This new protocol was applied to four sulfone derivatives (3a–d), using vinylbenzene (4a) and diphenylethene (4b), affording a series of 2, 3-dihydrofurans (5a–d, 6a–d) in moderate to good yields (26– ...