Microwave assisted stereospecific synthesis of (S)-3-substituted 2,3,6,7,12,12a-hexahydropyrazino[1′,2′:1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indole-1,4-diones

A new easy way of preparing (S)-3-substituted 2,3,6,7,12,12a-hexahydropyrazino[1′,2′:1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indole-1,4-diones, an important intermediate compound, is described using microwave irradiation supported on silica gel. The reaction is generalised and good to excellent yields of enantiomerically pure products are obtained.