A synthetic strategy was developed for the preparation of β-carbolines by one-pot decarboxylation and aromatization of tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acids by employing 10 mol% of iodine in presence of oxidant aqueous H2O2. The method was also successfully extended for the aromatization of tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-methyl esters. The utility of the method was demonstrated in the synthesis of β-carboline alkaloids norharmane, harmane and eudistomin N.