The (1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetra-decane)nickel(I), [Ni(tmc)](+), electrogenerated at glassy carbon cathodes is shown to be an effective catalyst for the intramolecular radical-type cyclisation of bromoalkoxylated derivatives 1 in alcohol and/or alcohol/water mixtures as well as in microemulsions made with cationic and anionic surfactants. The results obtained indicate that the reaction proceeds via cleavage of the carbon-bromine bond to form a radical-type intermediate that undergoes cyclisation on the unsaturated C-C bond to afford substituted tetrahydrofurans. The reactions are more selective and take place at higher current density than when carried out in conventional aprotic solvents. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.