N-arylindole-3-carbonitriles in a one-pot manner through NBS- or NCS-mediated halogenation followed by Zn(OAc)2-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization. It is postulated that the process involves the formation of arylnitrenium ionintermediates, which undergo the electrophilic aromaticsubstitution to give the cyclized N-arylindole product.