A simple and efficient one-pot two-stepsynthesis of substituted 3-aminoarylquinolines has been achieved from 2-nitrobenzaldehyde and indoles under microwave irradiation. Firstly 2-nitrobenzaldehydes is reduced to 2-aminobenzaldehyde in situ by commonly used chemo selective reductant SnCl2 followed by condensation of indole. The acidic nature of the resultant reaction mixture due to SnCl2 helps in