A robust Zintl cluster for the catalytic reduction of pyridines, imines and nitriles

has high stability in these reductions: recycling nine times in quinoline hydroboration led to virtually no loss in catalyst performance. The catalyst can also be recycled between two different organic transformations, again with no loss in catalyst competency. The mechanism for pyridine reduction was probed experimentally using variable time normalization analysis, and computationally using density functional theory. This work demonstrates that Zintl clusters can mediate the reduction of nitrogen containing substrates in a transition metal-free manner.