An unprecedented behaviour of in situ generated indole-3-alkoxides (MgX or Li) has been reported. Tuning the electronic properties of the alkoxides offered the direct and selective construction of bisindolylmethanes and indole-3-carbinols. This process shows very broad scope and represents the reagent (external) free, greener synthesis of structurally divergent bisindolylmethanes. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd