Nitramarine (1), which possesses a β-carboline nucleus, was synthesized by two routes. First, we applied an intramolecular thermal cyclization of the 1-azahexatrienesystem in heteroaromatics such as 2. Although no intermediate (9 or 10) could be isolated, heating of 7 in toluene or of 8 in odichlorobenzene in the presence of hydroxylamine gave nitramarine (1) or its derivative (11), respectively. On the other hand, the Pictet? Spengler reaction ...