The invention discloses a method for preparing 5-methoxytryptamine by a one-pot method, which comprises the following steps: by taking 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-6-methoxy-1-oxo-beta-carboline as a
raw material, neutralizing by using strong acid instead of traditional
acetic acid during ring-opening reaction, and carrying out
decarboxylation reaction on a ring-opening product without separating to prepare the 5-methoxytryptamine. The method can completely avoid the generation of
sodium acetate in the ring-opening reaction in the traditional technology, reduces the influence on the next
decarboxylation reaction, and can directly perform the
decarboxylation reaction without separating the ring-opening product, thereby effectively solving the problem that the decarboxylation reaction needs to be directly performed in the prior art. According to the method for preparing the 5-methoxytryptamine by using the 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-6-methoxy-1-oxo-beta-carboline as the
raw material, the defects that weak acid is left and an intermediate needs to be separated in the method are overcome, and the reaction
route is shortened. The method improves the product yield and purity, has the advantages of simplicity and convenience in operation, high product purity, less three wastes and low cost, and is suitable for large-scale industrial production.