Convenient lanthanum-mediated synthesis of bulky <i>tert</i>-alkyl amines from nitriles

<i>Tert</i>-alkyl amines can be conveniently prepared in one step from nitriles by a double addition of ethyl or propyl Grignard reagent mediated by a commercially available lanthanum chloride-lithium chloride complex solution. The reaction operates on a variety of benzonitriles, with several heterocyclic nitriles and an alkyl nitrile also being suitable substrates.