Lithium and amine dissolving metal reduction

In a process of reducing an organic compound susceptible to dissolving metal reduction which comprises exposing the organic compound to a solution of lithium in a lower alkyl amine the improvement which comprises providing in such solution a polyamine, including at least two amino groups and selected from the group consisting of primary and secondary amino groups and mixtures thereof, wherein said polyamine comprises from 2 to 4 nitrogen atoms and from 2 to about 30 carbon atoms and R--NH.sub.2, wherein R is chosen from the group consisting of lower alkyl radicals, having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, including all straight and branched chain isomers thereof, optionally containing a lower alkyl alcohol, for a time sufficient to effect reduction.