Development of the Pictet-Spengler reaction catalyzed by AuCl3/AgOTf

[GRAPHICS] Mild and efficient AUCl(3)/AgOTf-catalyzed Pictet-Spengler reactions were developed to afford in good yields a variety of tetrahydroisoquinoline and tetrahydro-beta-carboline ring systems, which constitute important motifs in biologically active natural and synthetic organic compounds.