Oxidation of various N-acylalkylamines with ruthenium tetroxide (RuO 4) was systematically investigated. N-Acylalkylamines having an electron-donating group at the α-or β-position with respect to amide nitrogen or an electron-donating alkyl function in the acyl group were smoothly oxidized to the corresponding imides in excellent yields. On the other hand, N- acylalkylamines having an electron-withdrawing group were not oxidized at all, and most ...
