Treatment of 2-(o-tolyl)-or 2-(3-methyl-2-pyridyl)-substituted indole-3-carbaldehydes with potassium tert-butoxide in DMF at 70–80° C with simultaneous irradiation from a 400 W high- pressure mercury lamp afforded benzo [a] carbazoles and pyrido [2, 3-a] carbazoles respectively in good yields.