A Reported “New Synthesis of Lysergic Acid” Yields Only The Derailment Product: Methyl 5-Methoxy-4,5-dihydroindolo[4,3-<i>f,g</i>]quinoline-9-carboxylate

Abstract

The treatment of ethyl 6-formyl-5-(1<i>H</i>-indol-4-yl)pyridine-3-carboxylate (<b>2</b>) with NaOMe or NaOH in methanol solution at room temperature under the reported reaction conditions afforded solely product <b>4</b> in 80% yield, rather than anticipated product <b>3</b>