Octet / Reactions
Reductive Amination
Reductive Amination (Reduction.) Converts CC=O to CCNC using R-NH₂, then NaBH₃CN or NaBH(OAc)₃.
Reduction
Reaction details
Name
Reductive Amination
Type
Reduction
Starting Material
CC=O
Product
CCNC
Reagents
R-NH₂
then NaBH₃CN or NaBH(OAc)₃
Mechanism
- Smiles
CC=O
- Description
Aldehyde or ketone
- Smiles
CC=NC
- Description
Condensation with amine gives imine
- Smiles
CCNC
- Description
Selective reduction of C=N (not C=O) gives amine
Tips
One-pot: Carbonyl + Amine → Amine
NaBH₃CN: selective for iminium (works at pH ~6)
NaBH(OAc)₃: milder, better functional group tolerance
Avoids over-alkylation problem of direct alkylation
Related Reactions
nabh4-reduction
This is one row of the Reaction roadmap sheet - print all 83 reactions on one page.