A modified bischler-napieralski reaction. Synthesis of 2,3,4,9- tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-B]indole derivatives and their base-catalyzed transformation to N-acetyl-N-[2-[1 -acetyl-2-[1 -(acetyloxy)-1-propenyl]- 1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl]acetamides

The treatment of N-[2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]alkanamide, 1 (1), with phosphorus oxychloride under controlled conditions gave l-alkyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-ol, 2 . The reaction of 2 with acetic anhydride or with methyl isocyanate at room temperature resulted in the formation of amido carbinol 3 and urea carbinol 7, respectively. The former was transformed into amido ester 4 by boiling acetic anhydride. When the reaction of 3 with acetic anhydride was carried out in the presence of excess triethylamine at 105°, C-N bond cleavage of the tetrahydropyridine ring took place with concurrent bis(N-acetylation) to give the enol ester derivative 5 . The structures of all compounds are consistent with chemical and spectral evidence.