Amide reduction

Catalytic hydrogenation can be used to reduce amides to amines; however, the process often requires high hydrogenation pressures and reaction temperatures to be effective (i.e. often requiring pressures above 197 atm and temperatures exceeding 200 °C). ==Amines from other hydride sources==

Reducing agents able to effect this reaction include metal hydrides such as lithium aluminium hydride, or lithium borohydride in mixed solvents of tetrahydrofuran and methanol. : Iron catalysis by triiron dodecacarbonyl in combination with polymethylhydrosiloxane has been reported. Lawesson's reagent converts amides to thioamides, which can also be converted into amines. ==Noncatalytic routes to aldehydes==

Some amides can be reduced to aldehydes in the Sonn-Müller method, but most routes to aldehydes involve a well-chosen organometallic reductant. Lithium aluminum hydride reduces an excess of N,N-disubstituted amides to an aldehyde: :R(CO)NRR' + LiAlH4 → RCHO + HNRR' With further reduction the alcohol is obtained. Schwartz's reagent reduces amides to aldehydes, and so does hydrosilylation with a suitable catalyst. ==References==