How can lithium aluminum hydride convert amides into amines?

Lithium aluminum hydride (${\text{LiAlH}}_4$) acts as a powerful reducing agent that facilitates the conversion of amides into amines.12

In this chemical process, the amide is reduced to an amine through the action of the tetrahydridoaluminate anion (${\text{AlH}}_4^{-}$), which serves as a source of hydride. The specific type of amine produced—whether primary, secondary, or tertiary—is determined by the degree of substitution on the nitrogen atom of the starting amide. For instance, the reduction of octanamide results in the formation of a primary amine.23

Unlike hydrolysis, which typically converts amides into carboxylic acids or their salts, the use of lithium aluminum hydride allows for the direct synthesis of the corresponding amine.3