1-Oxo-5-hydroxytryptamine: a surprisingly potent agonist of the 5-HT3 (serotonin) receptor

A novel synthetic route to 1-oxo-5-hydroxytryptamine, the benzofuran analogue of serotonin, has been developed. The new synthesis proceeds via the [3+2] cycloaddition of p-benzoquinone and 2,3-dihydrofuran, followed by a Lewis acid-catalyzed isomerization. This molecule proves to be a competent agonist (equipotent to serotonin) of the 5-HT3 receptor, demonstrating that the indolic proton of serotonin is not essential to its activation of the receptor.