Mono-N-alkylation of α-aminoacetonitriles. A novel route to unsymmetrical secondary amines

Abstract
Mannich-type condensation products of an aldehyde with an α-aminoacetonitrile and benzotriazole are treated with sodium borohydride or with a Grignard reagent to give unsymmetrical N,N-dialkylaminoacetonitriles, which, on decyanomethylation, provide unsymmetrical secondary amines.