routes have been developed to construct its skeleton. However, synthesis of unsymmetric phenanthrenes remains a challenge. Here, an efficient one-pot tandem reaction for the preparation of phenanthrenes via sequential γ-C(sp2)–H arylation, cationic cyclization, dehydration, and 1,2-migration was developed. A wide range of symmetric and unsymmetric phenanthrenes with diversified functional groups were synthesized