Employing TBN/TEMPO as the catalysts and oxygen as the oxidant, the biologically and pharmaceutically significant tetrahydro-β-carboline and β-carboline alkaloid scaffolds that used to be obtained by multi-step processes can now be selectively obtained in only one-step via direct aerobicoxidative Pictet–Spengler reactions of tryptamines with alcoholsundermildconditions, with water generated as