Raney Ni/KBH4: An efficient and mild system for the reduction of nitriles to amines

Abstract

A new and efficient method of synthesizing primary amines from their corresponding nitriles with KBH4 in dry ethanol catalyzed by Raney Ni has been discovered. It is proved that this route is so far the most facile, efficient and easy-to-handle method of reducing aliphatic and aromatic nitriles directly to primary amines. Under mild conditions, up to 93% isolated yields were achieved for aromatic or aliphatic nitriles. This approach opens up a new way for the utilization of potassium borohydride and the classical catalyst Raney Ni. ©ARKAT-USA, Inc.