Nicker mediated reduction of azides by Bu3SnH

The use of two equivalents of Bu3SnH (TBTH), in the presence of a catalytic amount of NidppeCl(2), provides a new procedure for the reduction of organ ic azides under mild conditions. While non-sterically hindered aliphatic az ides readily undergo reduction to produce primary amines in good yields, be nzyl azide gives N-3 displacement by the hydride group.