SYNTHESIS OF 1-ARYL SUBSTITUTED 9H-PYRIDO[3,4-b]INDOLES

A series of 1-aryl substituted 9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indoles (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines) were synthesized by cyclization of tryptamine with a number of substituted benzaldehydes in the presence of hydrochloric acid. Four modifications of reaction conditions were found necessary in order to obtain the desired products containing a variety of substituents on the 1-aryl group. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the products enabled definitive assignment of structure.