title: Catalytic asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction.
abstract: A catalytic asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction has been developed, wherein treating substituted tryptamines with an aldehyde in the presence of a catalytic amount of a chiral phosphoric acid provides the corresponding tetrahydro-beta-carboline derivatives in high yields and enantiomeric excesses. The reaction works well with both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
authors.forename: Jayasree
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seayad
authors.forename: Abdul Majeed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Seayad
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: List
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry; D002243:Carbolines / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D002243:Carbolines; D014363:Tryptamines; C009804:tryptoline