A Novel Lewis Acid Catalyzed [3 + 3]-Annulation Strategy for the Syntheses of Tetrahydro-β-Carbolines and Tetrahydroisoquinolines

A novel Lewis acid catalyzed [3 + 3]-annulation process for the efficient syntheses of both tetrahydro-β-carbolines and tetrahydroisoquinolines from readily available benzylic alcohols and aziridines was developed, which would be a highly valuable complement to the widely used Pictet–Spengler reaction. A probable mechanism was proposed based on the isolation and characterization of two key intermediates. This strategy enables facile access to important alkaloid frameworks not easily available with other known methods.