Fluorinated benzofuro[2,3-b]pyridines, benzothieno[2,3-b]pyridines and 9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indoles (α-carbolines) were synthesized via regiospecific pyridine core annulation of a number of fluoro-containing 1,3-CCC-dielectrophiles to benzofuran-2-amine, benzothiophen-2-amine and 1H-indol-2-amine. Based on the 2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole thus synthesized, the preparative approach towards a set of nucleosides and nucleoside mimetics bearing the α-carboline framework was elaborated.