Anodic oxidation of N-amidoimidates was performed in acetonitrile + lithium perchlorate as the electrolyte solution at platinum using controlled potentials. The products, isolated in good yield after oxidation of the amide group followed by deprotonation and intramolecular cyclization reactions, were identified as [1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-one derivatives. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.