Nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 4-chloro-and 4-fluoro-7-azaindoles with cyclic secondary amines under microwave heating gave a straightforward and rapid synthesis of 4- (cyclic dialkylamino)-7-azaindoles. 4-Fluoro-7-azaindoles showed a greater reactivity towards SNAr reactions under these conditions than 4-chloro-7-azaindole.