Nitrile reduction

[3] Catalysts for the reaction often include group 10 metals such as Raney nickel,[4][5][6] palladium black, or platinum dioxide.

[8] The most important reaction condition for selective primary amine production is catalyst choice.

[1] Other important factors include solvent choice, solution pH, steric effects, temperature, and the pressure of hydrogen.

For example, sodium borohydride reduces nitriles in alcoholic solvents with a CoCl2 catalyst or Raney nickel.

[14] Regarding the proposed mechanism, DIBAL forms a Lewis acid-base adduct with the nitrile by formation of an N-Al bond.