Synthetic studies in the β-carboline area new entry into4-substituted and 3,4-disubstituied β-carbolines

The 3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of the allyl ether $\text{2}$ to provide $\text{3}$ represents a new synthetic entry into 3,4-disubstituted β-carbolines. In keeping with the interest in such substituted β-carbolines, the hydrazine mediated conversion of 4-oxo-tetrahydro β-carboline $\text{1b}$ into 4-amino β-carboline $\text{2b}$ is also described, as well as the analogous reaction in the isoquinoline series.