Reaction of carbon nucleophiles with alkylideneindazolium and alkylideneindolium ions generated from their 3-(1-arylsulfonylalkyl) indazole and indole precursors.

Lewis acid promoted elimination of p-toluenesulfinc acid from sulfonyl indazoles and sulfonyl indoles generates the corresponding iminium ion that reacts with allyltin reagents, silyl enol ethers, silyl ketene acetals and electron-rich aromatics leading to functionalized indazole and indole derivatives.