Iodine-catalyzed chemoselective dehydrogenation and aromatization of tetrahydro-β-carbolines: A short synthesis of Kumujian-C, Eudistomin-U, Norharmane, Harmane Harmalan and Isoeudistomine-M

Temperature controlled chemoselective dehydrogenation and aromatization of tetrahydro-β-carbolines, using molecular I2 and H2O2, in DMSO solvent affords a practical access to a series of corresponding 3,4-dihydro-β-carbolines and β-carbolines respectively. This method has been successfully employed in the short synthesis of Kumujian-C, Eudistomin-U, Norharmane Harmane Harmalan and Isoeudistomin-M.