Reductive amination
Abstract
Reductive amination is a reaction that converts a ketone or an aldehyde into an amine through condensation with a primary or secondary amine, followed by reduction of the resulting iminium ion.
Keywords
Aldehyde, Ketone, Reduction, Amine
Category
Aldehyde/Ketone, Amine
Mechanism
First, the amine attacks the carbonyl carbon of the aldehyde (or ketone) in a nucleophilic addition, forming a hemiaminal intermediate. Under acid catalysis, this intermediate loses water to give the iminium ion. The iminium ion is then reduced by the reducing agent (typically, NaBH3CN or NaBH(OAc)3), yielding the corresponding amine.
