Facile nucleophilic substitution at the C3a tertiary carbon of the 3a-bromohexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole scaffold.

The synthesis of 3a-substituted hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole derivatives via nucleophilic substitution at the C3a position is reported. Nitrogen-, oxygen-, sulfur-, fluoro- and carbon-based nucleophiles have been employed, using both conventional organic solvents and ionic liquids. The C3a-substituted derivatives were obtained in good to excellent yields.