The reductions of nitriles in ether and in tetrahydrofuran at various hydride-nitrile ratios have been investigated, using both direct and reverse addition procedures. The various reduction products include primary amines, aldehydes, hydrogen, 1, 3-diamines (resulting from dimerization) and other higher products. Reaction sequences are proposed for the major processes in both types of reaction. No evidence was obtained for the presence of a ...
