Oxidative radical cyclizations of enamide 3 with Mn(OAc)(3) in the presence of Cu(II) were examined. When Cu(OAc)(2) was used as an additive, 4-acetoxyerythrinane derivative 5 was formed, whereas the use of Cu(OTf)(2) afforded simple erythrinane 6. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.