Abstract The Fischer indole synthesis was carried out using microwaves instead of conventional heating procedures. When the mixture of phenylhydrazine, cyclohexanone and zinc chloride was irradiated at 600 W for 3 min, 76% of 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydrocarbazole was obtained. However, when zinc chloride was replaced with p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA), the reaction yielded 91% of 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydrocarbazole. Thus, a series of indoles were ...