A convenient radical cyclization cascade procedure for the construction of sulfonated indenones from 2-alkynylbenzonitriles and sodium arylsulfinates has been explored under mild reaction conditions. The present methodology offers a low-cost and operationally straightforward approach to synthesizing various sulfonated indenones in moderate to good yields by simple use of cheap sodium persulfate as an oxidant and environmentally benign water as a co-solvent.