(RS)‐1‐(4‐Aminobutyl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐β‐carboline ((RS)‐1) was synthesized in two different ways. The preparation of (S)‐(−)‐1 was performed both by asymmetric reduction with ⩾ 95% ee and by synthesis from (S)‐(+)‐3. From this compound also (+)‐6‐azacyclodeca[5,4‐b]indol‐1‐amine ((+)‐2) was prepared with high enantioselectivity.