Ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate (Cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate, CAN) is a versatile reagent for oxidative electron transfer reactions. It participates in various novel carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions involved in one-pot synthesis of dihydrofurans, tetrahydrofurans and aminotetralins. Iodine/ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate has been employed in direct α-iodination of various ketones to afford the corresponding α-iodo ketones. CAN has been reported as an powerful one-electron oxidant. It also participates in various carbon-heteroatom bond-forming reactions.