I just came across a 1998 paper in Heterocycles, 49, 451-457 (1998)
on a 5 step synthesis of psilocin from indole-3-carbaldehyde
(indole-3-carboxaldehyde, available from Aldrich
http://www.sigma-aldrich.com
at 25g for $53.20, S/N 12,944-5).
The authors (Yamada, Tamura and Somei, M*) carry out a one pot rxn
using indole-3-carbaldehyde and Tl(OCOCF3)3 in TFA at rt. for 24 h. Next step
they add iodine, CuI in DMF at rt. for 1h. The third step of this one pot involves
adding KH and benzyl alc. to give after silica gel column (1:1 EtOAc-hex.) 72% yield of 4-benzyloxyindole-3-carbaldehyde. The first step involves regioselective thallation at the
4 position. The C-Tl bond is converted to the C-I at 4 and this 4-iodoindole compound is protected in the last step. This was converted to 4-benzyloxyindole-3-acetonitrile in 89% yield
using NaBH4 in presence of NaCN in MeOH and formamide. LAH reduction in ether follows to give 96% yield of 4-benzyloxyTryptamine. If they used THF, the yield fell to 25-46%. Next dimethylation with HCHO and NaCNBH4 in HOAc gave 97% yield.
Removal of protection at position 4 with 10% Pd/C and hydrogenation gave psilocin in
84% yield (note that all yields are of purified product). Overall yield is 50%.
Thought you might be interested. I'm not aware that this work has been discussed in the
Back alleys of drug chemistry.
Eric
Pet your dog instead:
http://home.earthlink.net/~ejlmp/Maggie.html
We made it through another day Maggie
and we found somethinÕ out.