Iodine-Catalyzed Highly Effective Pictet–Spengler Condensation: An Efficient Synthesis of Tetrahydro-β-carbolines

Abstract

Molecular iodine was found to be an efficient catalyst for the two-component Pictet–Spengler condensation of tryptamine with aldehydes, which leads to the formation of tetrahydro-β-carbolines in high yields.

Keywords:

• Pictet–Spengler condensations
• molecular iodine
• tetrahydro-β-carbolines

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, for financial support and the director, Northeast Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, for his keen interest and constant encouragement.

Notes

^a All the yields refere to isolated pure compounds.