The gold-catalyzed reaction of 2-alkynyl-phenylamines with α, β-enones represents a new general one-pot entry into C-3-alkyl-indoles by sequential reactions. Gold-catalyzed sequential cyclization/alkylation, N-alkylation/cyclization, or N-alkylation/cyclization/ alkylation reactions leading to different indoles can be directed by changing the 2-alkynyl- phenylamine 1/α, β-enone 3 ratio and the reaction temperature. Unusual gold-catalyzed ...