In conclusion we have developed an expedient method for thesynthesis of indoles by the sequential implementation of thePd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of o-haloaniline and PIFAoxidation of the resulting 2-alkenylanilines. Highlights of thismodular synthesis include the regiochemical outcome that iscomplementary to the Fischer indole synthesis and relatedvariants, and direct preparation of free N−H indoles withoutrequiring an N-protecting group. Application in total synthesisof structurally complex indole alkaloids will be reported in duecourse