Reaction of ethyl azidoacetate with 6-formylchromans, followed by cyclisation of the azides obtained, leads to 1, 7, 8, 9-tetrahydropyrano [2, 3-g] indoles and 2, 3, 4, 8-tetrahydropyrano [3, 2-f] indoles. Some aspects of the chemical reactivity of these new tricyclic systems are