Regioselective Radical Additions to 7-Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one

Radical addition to 7-oxabicylco[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 1 ) was examined from a regiochemical point of view, and despite the small electronic anisotropy of the double bond, electrophilic radicals were found to add preferentially at C(5) with selectivities of up to 5:1. We also report the first case of an inversion of the regioselectivity of a radical reaction using Lewis acids.