Simple and Efficient Synthesis of Tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines via the Pictet—Spengler Reaction in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐Hexafluoro‐2‐propanol (HFIP).

Hexafluoro-2-propanol acts as both the solvent and the catalyst to promote the title reaction between tryptamine derivatives [(I) or (VI)] or tyramine derivative (IX), resp., and aldehydes (II) or ketones (IV), respectively.