Nli, was oxidized with KMnO, in aqueous base under high dilution conditions to afford the carboxylic acid 5 in 74% yield. Running this reaction at higher concentrations resulted in much lower yields of the desired product. The acid 5 was converted to the corresponding acid chloride with SOClz and a catalytic amount of DMF, and the crude acid chloride reacted with methyl-, ethyl-, or cyclopropylamine to afford the amides 6a-c in good overall yields. ...