cyclisation has emerged as a useful route for the synthesis of benzannulated heterocycles and carbocycles. The aryl radicals are generated in situ from aryl halides (iodides or bromides) with tributylstannyl hydride–AIBN, SmI2, Co(I) or under photochemical conditions. The present work envisages the generation of aryl radicals by cathodic reduction of the carbon–iodine bond of N-(2-iodophenyl)-N-alkylcinnamides