Amides to Imides

With the powerful formylation reagent IV -diformylacetamide imides are obtained from amides or lactams in good yield (equation 56). Oxidation reactions also have found some application in the synthesis of imides. For example, catalytic amounts of ruthenium tetroxide and 10% aqueous NaI04 as cooxidant in an optimized reaction medium (ethyl acetate-water) oxidize acyclic amides to imides. The reaction rate is inversely related to the electron-withdrawing power of the acyl group, i.e. the electron density at the nitrogen atom (equation 57). 

Transition metal complexes are used as catalysts and as reagents in the synthesis of imides. Molybdenum hexacarbonyl activates strained aziridines and allows the nucleophilic attack of caibanions. Intramolecular rearrangement and a final oxidation yields imides completely stereospecifically (equation 59).38> Dicobalt octacarbonyl catalyzes the conversion of 3,7-unsaturated amides to imides in the presence of carbon monoxide (equation 60). ... 

RUO4 in oxidative cleavage of phenols or alkenes, oxidation of aromatics to quinones, oxidation of alkyl amides to imides or of ethers to esters (see 1st edition). 

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