1,8-Bis(dimethylamino)naphthalenes bearing 2-positioned trifluoroacetyl or ethoxycarbonyl group on treatment with 2-lithio-1,8-bis-dimethylamino)naphthalene undergo base-promoted transformation into benzo[g]indole derivatives in small to moderate yield, representing previously unknown mode of the pyrrole ring closure which proceeds via deprotonation of the NMe group.