A new way to do an old reaction: highly efficient reduction of organic azides by sodium iodide in the presence of acidic ion exchange resin.

Organic azides are readily reduced to the corresponding amines by treatment with sodium iodide in the presence of acidic ion exchange resin. The process, optimal when performed at 40 degrees C and 200 mbar pressure on a rotatory evaporator, is extremely efficient, clean, and tolerant of a variety of functional groups.