Starting from readily available olefin-tethered tertiary aminocyclopro
panes, we have developed a convenient [3 + 2] annulation reaction by m
eans of one-electron oxidation which can be induced photochemically or
chemically, followed by two sequential 5-exo radical cyclizations. Th
e rate constants for the competing 1,5-hydrogen transfer in the beta-i
mmonium carbon radical intermediate have been estimated to fall betwee
n 1000 (6-exo) and 100 (7-exo and/or 8-endo) s(-1) at room temperature
.