The rhodium(III)-catalyzed direct alkenylation of N-phenylindole-3-carboxylic acids with alkenes including acrylate ester, acrylamide, and acrylonitrile proceeds smoothly at the C4-position through regioselective C–H bondcleavagedirected by the carboxyl group. In marked contrast, the indole substrates react with diarylacetylenes accompanied by cleavage of the C2–H and C2′–H bonds and decarboxylation