[Chepsy]

Will H2/Pd reduce a salt of an imine to an amine?  I know H2/Pd can reduce an imine to an amine.

To give this problem context, add a Grignard reagent (RMgBr) to a nitrile; can the resulting magnesium salt of an imine be reduced using H2/Pd?

I should note that I know of another way to get the amine from the imine salt (hydrolysis of the salt to the ketone followed by reductive amination).  I'm just wondering if H2/Pd could do it directly.

[jake.n]

In order to avoid hydrolysis, you should be able to reduce the salt with LAH or NaBH₄ under anhydrous conditions.

[Chepsy]

Thanks.  Do you know if catalytic hydrogenation (H₂/Pd) will do the same thing?

[jake.n]

I don't see why it wouldn't.  Just avoid water to avoid solvolysis.