6 k2\,-cop years ago by Jacobs and Craig6 and Robinson.'If the 3-carboxyl group is retained through the ring-closure reaction, the crucial question becomes whether it can be easily removed or not. The second point of variation hinges upon whether acetaldehyde or pyruvic acid is the ring-closure reagent for the formation of the@-carboline ring. Both reagents react readily under “physiological conditions” to give the ring system, but it has long been ...