Cationic initiators from anionic leaving groups

Thus, in contrast to an ionization process from a neutral substrate, which initially generates an intimate ion pair, deamination reactions generate a cation which does not have an anion closely associated with it. Furthermore, the leaving group, molecular nitrogen, is very stable so that little, if any, nutleophilic participation is needed for bond cleavage. The... 

This behaviour results from initial formation of an intermediate with two potential leaving groups, an amide anion R2N and the aluminate anion (OAlHs). Aluminate is the better leaving group, and its loss produces an iminium cation that is also subject to further reduction. This gives us the amine product. 

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