Direct reductive amination of carbonyl compounds using sodium borohydride-silica chloride

A simple and convenient procedure for reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones using sodium borohydride in the presence of silica chloride as an active, inexpensive, recoverable, and recyclable catalyst is described. The reactions were carried out with equimolar amounts of amine and carbonyl compound using silica chloride-sodium borohydride in THF at room temperature.