An efficient procedure for the selective preparation of hydroxy-, carbonyl- and acetal-containing 2-pyrrolidinones has been developed through radical cyclization of 1,6-dienes initiated by alpha-C(sp(3))-H functionalization of alcohols. This protocol could be conducted at catalyst-free conditions at relatively low temperature (80 degrees C) by employing commercially available tert-butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB) as the oxidant. (C) 2020 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medic...