Patent ID: 7307187

Claim:
A process for converting an alcohol comprising amide group to corresponding carboxylic acid in yield ≧75% which process comprises reacting: R 1 —CONR 2 (CH 2 ) m OH wherein R 1 is linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 7 to 22 carbon atoms; R 2 is H, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atom(s); and m is an integer from 1 to 6, with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a hindered nitroxide radical and optional co-catalyst, wherein the solvent in which the reaction takes place is selected such that, in the presence of the oxidizing agent, the solvent layer separates from the aqueous layer, and the amidoalcohol partitions into the organic liquid solvent layer to thereby permit the high yields noted; wherein said solvent is tetrahydrofuran.