melatonin receptor agonist

[anarchochem42]

I've been attempting a reaction which involves a substitution to position 2 of the indole ring for melatonin, using l-phenylalanine as the reagent. What would be required to catalyze the reaction?

[CarbonCopy]

Assuming you want to carry nucleophillic acyl substitution of the carbonyl group of phenyl alanine use an acid. I think indole will attack the acyl position frrom the position 2.