Synthesis of pharmacologically relevant indoles with amine side chains via tandem hydroformylation/Fischer indole synthesis.

[reaction: see text] The sequence of hydroformylation and Fischer indole synthesis starting from amino olefins and aryl hydrazines is described. In a convergent manner, the two units bearing pharmacologically relevant substituents are assembled in the final indolization step. This modular and diversity-oriented approach to tryptamines and homotryptamines can be conducted in water and allows synthesis of branched and nonbranched tryptamines as well as tryptamine-based pharmaceuticals such as the 5-HT1D agonist L 775 606.