2-Arylbenzoylchlorides undergo annulativecoupling with internal alkynes in the presence of a catalyst system of [IrCl(cod)]2/P(t-Bu)3 to selectively afford the corresponding phenanthrenederivatives accompanied by elimination of carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride. The reaction occurs without addition of any external base. Deuterium-labeling experiments using 2-(d5-phenyl)benzoyl chloride suggest