Reactions of Indole and Its Derivatives with Cotarnine. Rearrangement of 5-(1-Indolyl)-4-methoxy-6-methyl- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinolines

A synthetic route to compounds of the indolyltetrahydroisoquinoline series was developed on the basis of the reaction of cotarnine with indole derivatives. Aminoalkylation of indole and its derivatives with cotarnine occurs regioselectively at the nitrogen atom of the indole fragment to give the corresponding 5-(1-indolyl)-4-methoxy-6-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro1,3]dioxolo4,5-g]isoquinolines. The products were found to undergo rearrangement into isomeric 5-(3-indolyl)-4-methoxy-6-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro1,3]dioxolo4,5-g]isoquinolines which constitute a new class of indolyltetrahydroisoquinoline systems.