While 1-(2-arylethynyl)-2-nitroarenes were reduced to 2-(2-arylethynyl) anilines in the presence of indium and InCl3 in THF/H2O (v/v= 5/1) at 50° C, 1-(2-arylethynyl)-2-nitroarenes were reductively cyclized to 2-arylindoles with good yields in the presence of indium and aqueous HI in benzene.