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 KBH 4 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.