Reactions of imines, oximes and hydrazones

The most important reaction of imines is their reduction to form amines. The conversion of an aldehyde or ketone to an amine, via an imine, is known as reductive animation. This allows, for example, the selective formation of a secondary amine from a primary amine. 

Imines can also be attacked by nucleophiles, such as cyanide, and this is used in the Strecker amino acid synthesis. 

An important reaction of oximes is their conversion to amides in the Beckmann rearrangement reaction. 

The R1 group, which is trans- to the leaving group, migrates 

An important reaction of hydrazones is their conversion to alkanes on heating with hydroxide. This is known as the Wolff-Kischner reaction. 

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