Abstract Unless the Mn III-produced carbon-radical from β-ketocarbonyl compounds undergoes smooth intramolecular addition to alkenes, it traps molecular oxygen in the reaction medium to produce a peroxy radical, which reacts with the neighbouring carbonyl group to form 1, 2-dioxetane. Thermal decomposition of 1, 2-dioxetane completes the oxidation to produce α-oxo ester. This oxidation seems to be general at 50 C under ...
