new one-pot synthesis of 3-arylisoquinolines was accomplished by reaction of deoxybenzoins with an excess of nitriles and phosphorus pentoxide at room temperature. The usefulness of this synthesis was demonstrated by the facile preparation of 1-alkyl, 1-alkenyl, and 1-aryl substituted 3-aryl-isoquinolines and on a preparative scale. The effect of nitrile type and deoxybenzoinsubstitution pattern on