Esterification of L-tryptophan (I) by means of MeOH and SOCl2 gave the corresponding methyl ester (II). Subsequent Pictet-Spengler cyclization of (II) with 4-chlorobenzaldehyde (III) furnished the tetrahydropyridoindole (IV), which was dehydrogenated to the beta-carboline (V) using sulfur in refluxing xylene. The ester group of (V) was finally reduced to the target alcohol with LiAlH4 in THF.