The reaction of methyl iodide with an anilide anion prepared from 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylanilide and NaH in CH3CN gave N-methyl anilide (N-alkylation product) as a major product, while in the reaction of benzyl bromide with the anilide anion in DMF, O-benzyl imidate (O-alkylation product) was obtained with almost complete selectivity. The treatment of O-benzyl imidate with alcohols and carboxylic acids