Synthesis of six specifically deuterted indoles of biological interest

Procedures for the preparation of N‐methyl‐(α,α,ß,ß‐2H4)tryptamine, 5‐methoxy‐N‐methyl‐(α,α,ß,ß‐2H4)tryptamine, 5‐hydroxy‐N‐methYl‐(α,α,ß,ß‐2H4)tryptamine, (α,α,ß,ß‐2H4)tryptophol, 5‐methoxy‐(α,α,ß,ß‐2H4)tryptophol and 5‐hydroxy‐(α,α,ß,ß‐2H4)tryptophol are described. Deuterium was introduced by treatment with lithium aluminium deuteride of the appropriate indole‐3‐(N‐methylglyoxylamide) or ethyl indole‐3‐glyoxalate. The isotopic purity of the products was greater than 97.3%.