Abstract This paper describes the synthesis of two 4-amino-5H-pyrimido [5, 4-b] indoles 5, 4- hydrazino-5H-pyrimido [5, 4-b] indole 6, two 1, 2, 4-triazolo [4, 3-c] pyrimido [5, 4-b] indoles 8, and tetrazolo [4, 5-c] pyrimido [5, 4-b] indole 10. Starting with ethyl 3-aminoindole-2- carboxylate 1, 5H-pyrimido [5, 4-b] indol-4-one 2 was obtained (80%) by condensing with formamide. Reactions of 2 with phosphorus oxychloride and phosphorus pentasulfide ...