An efficient palladium-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution/C–H activation/aromatization cascade reaction between readily available 2-halo-N-Ms-arylamines (Ms = methanesulfonyl) and benzyl halides/sulfonates has been described. A wide variety of phenanthridines were synthesized in a one-pot fashion in moderate to high yields (37–86 %). Notably, this method provides a straightforward, facile approach