EN
N-Benzylmorpholine,-piperidine, and-pyrrolidine (1A-C, resp.) are oxidised by RuO4 (generatedin situ) at both endocyclic and exocyclic (benzylic)N-α-methylene positions to afford lactams (and dioxo-derivatives) and benzaldehyde (and benzoyl derivatives), respectively. TheN-oxides of1A-C, formed by a minor side reaction, are not involved as intermediates. Control experiments showed the transient formation of endo- and exocyclic iminium cations trapped with NaCN as the corresponding nitriles. The proposed course of the RuO4-mediated oxidation of1A-C involves the consecutive steps1⇒iminium cations+cyclic enamine⇒oxidation products. The endocyclic/exocyclic regioselectivity of the oxidation reaction lies between 0.8 (for1A) and 2.1 (for1B). The amine cation radical and theN-α-C· carbon-centered radical seem not to be involved.