Reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones using sodium borohydride in the presence of silica chloride under solvent-free conditions

A simple and convenient procedure for the preparation of amines from aldehydes and ketones with sodium borohydride activated by silica chloride as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions is described. A variety of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, ketones and amines when mixed with NaBH4/silica chloride at room temperature, afforded excellent yield of the corresponding amines.