Abstract-The synthesis of new 3-substituted y-carbolines is described and these products were subjected to ortho-lithiation experiments. Whereas 3-carboxamido derivatives (5: 1, b) were cleanly lithiated at 4-position, the 3-amino derivatives (6a, b) gave only small amounts of addition products. The results obtained are compared to those previously published in the a-carboline series and semiempirical calculations were performed. Various 3.4- ...