Synthesis of Novel Indole‐Based Ring Systems by Acid‐Catalysed Condensation from α‐Amino Aldehydes and L‐Trp‐OMe

Acid-catalysed condensation of tryptophan with different α-amino aldehyde derivatives has been explored as a useful route to the synthesis of novel amino acid derived heterocycles and peptidomimetic scaffolds. By this approach, compounds containing a tetrahydro-β-carboline and a novel octahydropyrrolo[3′,2′:3,4]pyrrolo[2,3-b]indole system have been efficiently synthesized. Here we report the characterization of these new compounds and preliminary studies of the reactivity of the tetrahydro-β-carboline system.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)