Abstract 2-Acyl-1-benzenesulfonyl-3-iodo-1H-indoles and 1-benzenesulfonyl-3-iodo-1H- indole-2-carbaldehyde give in satisfactory yields 1, 3-and 3-substituted-β-carbolines, respectively, by combined palladium-catalyzed coupling with alk-1-ynes followed by 6-endo- dig cycloamination reactions.