A novel and convenient cascade trifluoroethylation/cyclization of organic isoselenocyanates by phenyl(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)iodonium triflate is reported. A series of 2-isoselenocyanobiaryls and aryl alkyl isoselenocyanates reacted with phenyl(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)iodonium triflate in CH2Cl2 at 40 °C under metal- and additive-free conditions for 3 h to provide the corresponding trifluoroethylselenolated
N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed tandem cyclization/addition/cyclization reaction of 2-isocyanobiaryls and α-bromo-N-cinnamylamides for the synthesis of 2-pyrrolidinone-functionalized phenanthridines is developed. This protocol features a radical cascade process, broad substrate scope, and good functional group compatibility under metal- and oxidant-free reaction conditions.