Question

A secondary amine can not be prepared directly by

• A. reduction of nitroalkanes
• B. reduction of cyanide
• C. reduction of isocyanide
• D. Both a and b

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both a and b

Alkyl cyanide gives always a primary amine on reduction with $LiAl{H}_4$.
$R-CN\stackrel{LiAl{H}_4}{\to }R-C{H}_{2}N{H}_2$
Nitroalkanes gives primary amine on reduction.
$C_2{H}_{5}N{O}_2\stackrel{Sn+HCl}{\to }{C}_2{H}_{5}N{H}_2$
$Metal=Fe/Sn$
Hence, (d) is the correct option.