Diastereoselective synthesis of tetrasubstituted-octahydro-3,6-diazacarbazoles and tetrasubstituted-3,6-diazacarbazoles via double Pictet–Spengler reaction

Pictet–Spengler condensation of 2,5-bis(2-phenyl-1-aminoethyl)pyrrole using glacial acetic acid afforded only one diastereomer of unreported tetrasubstituted-octahydro-3,6-diazacarbazoles. These were readily dehydrogenated to tetrasubstituted-3,6-diazacarbazoles. The stereoselectivity in the Pictet–Spengler reaction has been demonstrated using single crystal X-ray analysis.