Homolytic aromatic alkylation of 1- and 2-alkoxynaphthalenes by manganese(III) oxidation of methanes or ethanes 1,1-disubstituted with electron-withdrawing groups

Thermal decompn. of Mn(OAc)3 in AcOH in the presence of MeCH(CO2Et)2 or CH2RR1 (R = Ac, R1 = H, Ac, CO2Et; R = CO2Et, R1 = cyano, CO2Et) and alkoxynaphthalenes I (R2 = H, R3 = OMe, OEt) and II (R4 = H, R5 = OMe, OCMe3) gave arom. substitution products, e.g., I [R2 = CMe(CO2Et)2, CHRR1, CRR1OAc, R3 = OMe, OEt] and II [R4 = CH(CO2Et)2, C(OAc)(CO2Et)2, R5 = OMe, OCMe3]. These reactions can also be performed with Mn(III) acetylacetonate and acetoacetate complexes