A direct entry to polycyclic quinoxaline derivativesviaI2-DMSO mediated oxidative decarboxylation of α-amino acids and the subsequent Pictet–Spengler cyclization reaction

A facile and highly efficient iodine-promoted strategy has been delineated for the synthesis of indolo and pyrrolo[1,2- a ]quinoxaline derivatives via an oxidative Pictet–Spengler type amino cyclo-annulation reaction using ∝-amino acids as aldehyde surrogates.