A one-pot two-step synthesis of functionalised 6,7-dihydro-1H-indol-4(5H)-ones from 1,3-cyclohexanediones, benzylamines, and 2-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene)-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione has been achieved. The advantages of this approach are operational simplicity, good yields of the products and avoidance of the use of any ligands, metal catalysts, acidic media, or column chromatography.