Summary: The alkaline hydrolysis of amides p (RCH, NHCO)-C6C14-~(C6C15) 2 (R, C02Et or C02H) occurs via methylene-nitrogen bond cleavage. Under the given conditions, the amide group in the corresponding non-radical, triarylmethane species, and in 4- (benzylcarbamoyl) tetradecachlorotriphenylmethyl radical, does not undergo any hydrolysis. That abnormal cleavage is traced therefore to the radical character.