Reduction of Amide using LAH

[CedarZ4]

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So I have a question about the reduction of Amides using LAH.

I understand that when you have a Nitrogen, the Oxygen will "leave" instead of N because N is such a poor leaving group. However, my question is, how come the carbonyl O isn't just reduced to an alcohol (remove a bond)? How come the oxygen is completely removed.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

I think it has to do with the nitrogen being electron donating so it kind of "kicks" the oxygen off as h2o with and iminium intermediate. The oxygen is more EN than Nitrogen so if one of them is going to leave, it's oxygen.

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