A new method for the synthesis of azido and thiocyanatoindoles by iodine and sodium azide or sodium thiocyanate in acetonitile at room temperature or 60.deg.C was found. Azidoindoles (3-azido-3-methyl -2-phenylindolenine, 3-azido-2,3-diphenylindolenine, 2-azidomethyl-3-metbylindole and 1-azido-1,2,3,4-tetrahyrocarbazole) and thiocyanatoindoles(3-thiocyanatoindole, 2-phenyl-3-thiocyanato indole, 3-methyl-2-phenyl-6-thiocyanatoindole and 2, 3-diphenyl-6-thiocyanatoindole) were prepared by this method in good yields.