Ether cleavageSynthesis of Medium and Large Rings, XXVIII1'. -The Ruthenium Tetroxide Oxidation of 3.6-Alkano-4,5-oligomethyleneoxepines -A New Approach to Macrocyclic Di-, Tri-. and Tetraketones The oxepines 3,9. and 9 are oxidized by means of ruthenium cleavage of 9a to give l l a and subsequent oxidation of l l b tetroxide to give various types of macrocyclic ketones such as and l l d to the monocyclic compounds 12a and 12b. 4, 8