A comparative study of N-alkylation of 1H-indole and 9H-carbazole derivatives with alcohol derivatives was performed using classic Mitsunobu reaction conditions, i.e. DEAD/PPh3, azodicarboxamide derivatives such as TMAD in the presence of PBu3, or using phosphorane derivatives such as CMMP. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.