ABSTRACT Benzenesulfonamide derivatives 6–11 were prepared from the reactions of arylsulfonylimidazolium iodides 1–5 with malononitrile or nitromethane anions in high yield. The addition product 11 reacted further with tryptamine to produce 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1-methyl-1-nitromethyl-1H-pyrido[3,4]indole (12) in excellent yield through Pictet–Spengler type reaction.