1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-γ-carbolinium salts: novel reactions with thiols, mediated by polymer-supported reagents

A series of dialkyl-[2-(3-alkylsulfanylmethyl-1H-indol-2-yl)-ethyl]amines was produced using a novel route involving nucleophilic ring opening of 2,2-dialkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-γ-carbolinium salts with thiols. The insertion reaction was mediated by a strong, polymer-supported base, and the purification of the target compounds was facilitated using resin-bound sulfonic acid.