File:Pictet1.docx

Pictet(Ame Pictet)-spengler(Theodor Spengler) reaction is a chemical reaction (specifically cycloaddition) in which a β-arylethylamine is made to react with a carbonyl group in the presence of an acid catalyst. In 1911, these two chemists have prepared 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline starting with β-phenylethylamine and formaldehyde dimethylacetal in the presence of hydrochloride in heating conditions. later on, after 17 years Tatsui replaced β-arylethylamine with tryptamine along with acetaldehyde and sulfuric acid which resulted in the generation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline.

After achieving the successful synthesis of the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline, it was visualized that the methodology lacks the asymmetric synthesis of β-carboline core and the configuration at C1 was not obtained.