a mixture of manganese(II) and manganese(III) acetates, and molecular oxygen yielded substituted 1, 2-dioxan-3-ols 3 in 14–95% yields. Cobalt(III) acetate, potassium permanganate, lead(IV) acetate, copper(II) acetate, chromium(VI) trioxide, thallium(III) acetate, ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate and iron(III) perchlorate were also used in place of manganese(III) acetate. Effects on the product yields of