a basicity gradient-driven selective migration of the heavy halogen. An unexpected finding on the way to the target compds. were the rigorously site-selective metalation of the 5-fluoro-N-(trialkylsilyl)indole (exclusive deprotonation of the 4-position). The fluoroindoles, although previously known, were accessed more conveniently from suitably substituted nitrobenzenes using the Bartoli or the Leimgruber-Batcho