The catalytic reaction of ketoximes with aryliodides via a Beckmann rearrangement in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)2, Ag2O and ZnBr2 gave substituted phenanthridines in good to excellent yield. In the reaction, aromatic ketoximes converted first to acetanilides in the presence of ZnBr2/TFA via a Beckmann rearrangement followed by arylation in the presence of palladium complex. Furthermore