Li 2 PdCl 4 , in methanol, with gramine 1 and 1-methyl gramine 2 gave the dimeric complexes 1a and 2a with chlorine bridges and having the indole nucleus metallated at position 2. The corresponding bromo derivatives 1b and 2b were isolated from the reactions of Pd(OAc) 2 with 1 and 2, followed by treatment with LiBr. Complexes 1a,b and 2a,b gave the monomeric, cyclometallated derivatives3a-d by reaction with PPh 3 in methylene chloride. When the cyclopalladation of 1-methyl gramine 1 was attempted by reacting PdCl 2 , PPh 3 and 2 in methanol in the presence of AcONa, an unexpected compound 4 was obtained. A structural determination of4 showed it consisted of the known [Pd(PPh 3 )Cl 3 ] - anion packed with the dimethyl-bis(3-methylene-1-methyl indole) ammonium cation.When compounds 1a and 2a were reacted with carbon monoxide at atmospheric pressure in methanol or ethanol and in the presence of NEt 3 , the corresponding 2-carboalkoxy indole derivatives 5 and 6 were isolated in high yields.