Domino Heck-Aza-Michael reactions : efficient access to 1-substituted tetrahydro-β-carbolines

A simple and efficient palladium-catalyzed domino reaction for the synthesis of a series of C1-substituted tetrahydro-<i>β</i>-carbolines is described. This domino process involves a Heck reaction at the indole 2-position of a halogenated tryptamine precursor, followed by intramolecular aza-Michael addition.