An efficient and practical one-pot domino synthesis of 1-phenyl-1H-indol-2-amine and 5-amino-indolo[1,2-a]quinazoline derivatives from readily available 2-(2-bromophenyl)acetonitriles was developed. The overall protocol involves a Buchwald–Hartwig type coupling and a base-promoted intramolecular nucleophilic reaction. The reaction scope, advantages and limitations are discussed.