fully palladium-catalyzedsynthesis of unusual naphthoxindole alkaloids through a key intramoleculardirect C–H arylation step leading to the formation of the phenanthrene core is described. The three-step process involves a highly efficient Heck coupling of aryl diazonium salts with phenylacrylates, giving the corresponding cis-stilbenes. Cyclization of stilbenes into phenanthrenes through a direct