“…Subsequently, the Knoevenagel condensation of compounds 20 with o-bromo-benzaldehyde afforded the corresponding arylidene-derivatives 21 a-i in 81-95 % yield, (step 3, Scheme 2). Finally, the selective reduction of the α,β-unsaturated moiety of 21 a-i mediated by NaBH 4 in a warm MeOH/p-dioxane mixture, [9] provided the expected radical precursors 17 a-i in 70-93 % yield, (step 4, Scheme 2). Reduction was performed because, in principle, the true configuration of the α,β-C=C double bond in 21 was unknown and because the major proximity between the bromophenyl moiety and the cyano function was required for the subsequent radical-mediated domino reaction, as shown in (entry 4, Scheme 1).…”