Abstract Thermal rearrangerment of 2-vinyl-1-(1-pyrrolidinyl) benzenes varies with the leaving group ability of substituents in the vinyl moiety; compound 3 having an OR group 9- (alkoxy-methyl) pyrrolo [1, 2-a] indoles and compounds 6 (X= OAc, OTs or Cl) yield 1- alkylindoles.