The electrochemical oxidation of the N-cyanomethyloxazolidine system in acetonitrile at a platinum electrode afforded a radical cation which might follow either one of two pathways, according to the experimental conditions: the first, in the presence of chloride or bromide ions led to halogenated products, the second, in the presence of water, led to lactam/amide formation. The mechanistic pathway of both reactions is discussed. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd