Homobenzonorbornadiene and benzobarrelene were reacted with dimedone/acetylacetone and Mn(OAc)(3) in the presence of Cu(OAc)(2) in acetic acid. Mainly rearranged products having a [2.2.2]skeleton and the nonrearranged dihydrofuran derivatives were obtained. These observations clearly indicated that the second oxidation takes place before the cyclization reaction. Furthermore, intramolecular tandem oxidations were observed where unusually oxyl radicals attack the double bond to form the products. The mechanism of the formation of the products is discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.