3-Hydroxymethyl-beta-carboline → 9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carbaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 3.3 g of 3-hydroxymethyl-beta-carboline, 300 ml of water-free pyridine and 9.9 g of lead tetra-acetate is heated in an oil bath for 4 h at about 80° C. After cooling and evaporation, 150 ml of water is added. The crystalline residue is filtered off, washed with a 5% aqueous potassium carbonate solution and then again with water. The air-dried product (3.5 g) is boiled in 0.7 liters of 2-propanol with activated carbon and is filtered hot. After evaporation, 2.7 g of beta-carboline-3-carboxaldehyde is obtained, with a melting point of 270° C. (decomposition).

Provenance & Evidence