NN-Dialkylformamides,(RCH2) 2N· CHO, and secondary amines are produced by the oxidation of trialkylamines,(RCH2) 3N, at the surface of manganese dioxide; the highest yield of N-formyl compound was ca. 70%. Whereas dimethylaniline is converted into N- methylformanilide by manganese dioxide, an aliphatic amine containing a tertiary carbon attached to nitrogen, Me3C· CH2· CMe2· NMe2, is oxidised to the secondary amine, ...