An anthraquinone-containing polymericphotosensitizer (AQ-PHEMA) can catalyze the cross-dehydrogenative-coupling of N-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines with several nucleophiles (nitromethane, 1-methyl-2-alkyl ketone and dialkyl (aryl) phosphine oxide) efficiently by visible light to afford a series of 1-substituted-2-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines in good to excellent yields with nice substrate tolerance