Preparation of 2° (Secondary) Amine from Isocyanide


General Reaction

R–NC→reductionH2/Ni  or  LiAlH4R–NH–CH3R–NC \xrightarrow[\text{reduction}]{H_2 / Ni \; \text{or} \; LiAlH_4} R–NH–CH_3

Product: Secondary amine


What Happens?

  • Isocyanide (R–NC) gets reduced
  • The carbon of –NC becomes –CH₃
  • Nitrogen forms secondary amine (R–NH–CH₃)

Example

C2H5–NC→H2/NiC2H5–NH–CH3C_2H_5–NC \xrightarrow{H_2/Ni} C_2H_5–NH–CH_3

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