The title compound was synthesized from 1-(3'-hydroxypropyl)-2-oxocyclododecane-1- carbonitrile (3), using two different routes (Scheme). The CN group of 3 was converted to the Me, N+ residue in 5 which underwent, upon NaH treatment, a fragmentation leading to the ring-enlargement product 6. The same product was observed after heating the ring-enlarged dimethylamine oxide 14, prepared from 3 by Bu4NF treatment and conversion of the CN ...