Two approaches involving intramolecular and intermolecular cyclization, respectively, have been developed for the direct and practical construction of a series of important benzo[ f ]pyrrolo[1,2- a ][1,4]azepines by using Brønsted acid catalysts. Upon catalysis by TsOH, the intramolecular dehydroxylation/ring closure of 3-hydroxy-2-[2-(1 H -pyrrol-1-yl)benzyl]isoindolin-1-ones provided various racemic benzo[ f ]pyrrolo[1,2- a ][1,4]azepines in high yields. Furthermore, enantioenriched benzo[ f ]pyrrolo[1,2- a ][1,4]azepines were also obtained by chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed intermolecular addition of [2-(1 H -pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]methanamines to 2-formylbenzoates under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]