A ruthenium-catalyzed reduction of N-alkoxy-and N-hydroxyamides was found to afford corresponding amides in good to high yields. A simple RuCl3/Zn–Cu/alcohol system, without the addition of any other ligands, exhibited a high catalytic activity, and therefore the present reaction does not require a stoichiometric amount of metals or metal complexes as reductants. When β-substituted-α, β-unsaturated N-methoxyamides were employed as ...