Tandem Alkylation-Reduction of Nitriles. Synthesis of Branched Primary Amines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00376a053

Tandem alkylation-reduction of a series of nitriles by alkylating with Grignard reagents followed by reducing with lithium-ammonia afforded the corresponding branched primary amines in reasonable isolated yields.Alkyl and aromating nitriles and a variety of Grignard reagents have been employed in this convenient procedure.A mechanism for the reduction of the imine intermediate is suggested.