PPh3/NaI driven photocatalytic decarboxylative cyclization of 2-isocyanobiaryls with alkyl NHP esters was developed. This simple protocol afforded a novel and environmentally friendly approach to furnish 6-alkyl phenanthridines in good yields.
In this work, an efficient tandem phosphorylation/cyclization process to synthesize 6-phosphorylated phenanthridines from 2-isocyanobiaryls and diarylphosphine oxides under undivided electrolytic conditions was developed.