Asymmetric synthesis of indole alkaloids from (L)-tryptophan: Formal syntheses of (-)-koumine, (-)-taberpsychine and (-)-koumidine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)79407-X

The reaction of (L)-tryptophan methyl ester with methyl 4-oxobutanoate under conditions of kinetic control gave a high yield of the cis-1,3-disubstituted tetrahydro-β-carboline (6); a simple five step procedure allowed this to be transformed into the opti