A now palladium-catalyzed cyclization of N-alkenyl-o-haloanilines with selective isomerization of a double bond followed by formal 5-endo-trig cyclization was developed. A variety of fused and 2-substituted indoles were synthesized from enaminoesters; prepared by condensation of beta-ketoesters and o-iodoaniline. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.