Persulfate-promoted radical cascade trifluoromethylthiolation and cyclization of 3-alkyl-1-(2-(alkynyl)phenyl)indoles with AgSCF 3 were investigated. This protocol provides a novel route to CF 3 S-substituted indolo[1,2-a]quinoline-7-carbaldehydes and CF 3 S-substituted indolo[1,2-a]quinoline-7-methanone derivatives via the formation of the C−SCF 3 bond and C−C bond and benzylic carbon oxidation in a single step. This reaction can accommodate a broad range of functional groups. The single-crystal Xray diffraction data confirm the chemical structure of the product. A scale-up experiment and radical inhibition experiments were operated in the reaction system. Photophysical properties of some selected 5-((trifluoromethyl)thio)indolo[1,2-a]quinoline-7carbaldehydes were studied by UV−visible and fluorescence spectroscopy.