Unprecedented stereospecific synthesis of a novel tetracyclic ring system, a hybrid of tetrahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole and tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]indole, via a domino reaction upon a tryptophan-derived amino nitrile.

Compounds containing a novel tetracyclic ring system, a hybrid of tetrahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole and tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]indole, are synthesized via an acid-mediated stereospecific domino tautomerization of a tryptophan-derived alpha-amino nitrile. Characterization of these new compounds and preliminary studies on the reactivity of the tetracyclic heterocyclic system are reported. [reaction: see text]