MnO3L addition to ketenes prefer the concerted [3+2]Cmg border="0" alt="double bond; length as m-dash" data-inlimg="/entities/dbnd" src="/sd/grey_pxl.gif" class="glyphImg imgLazyJSB">C addition except in the reaction of MnO4− with dimethyl ketene.
[2+2] addition possible only in the reaction of MnO3–OCH3 with dimethyl ketene.
Reactions involving an increase in oxidation state of metal have higher activation barriers.
Low activation barriers are obtained when the substituent on the ketene is electron-donating.