Reductive amination is the synthetic protocol in which an aldehyde or a ketone is converted to an amine via an imine.

In the first stage of the procedure, the aldehyde or the ketone is treated with ammonia or a primary amine in the presence of an acid catalyst.  An addition-elimination reaction results in an imine.  In the second stage, the imine is reduced to the corresponding amine.

eg. 1:

eg. 2: