1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) can act as both the solvent and the catalyst to promote the Pictet–Spengler reactions between tryptamine derivatives and aldehydes or activated ketones. For most substrates, removing the low boiling point HFIP by distillation directly afforded tetrahydro-β-carbolines in high yields.

HFIP acts as both solvent and catalyst for the Pictet–Spengler reaction, leading to high yields of tetrahydro--carbolines from tryptamine derivatives and aldehydes or activated ketones.

Paper

Simple and efficient synthesis of tetrahydro-β-carbolines via the Pictet–Spengler reaction in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP)

References

Citations