Rapid synthesis of polysubstituted phenanthridines from simple aliphatic/aromatic nitriles and iodo arenes via Pd(ii) catalyzed domino C-C/C-C/C-N bond formation.

An efficient and straightforward method has been developed for the synthesis of polysubstituted phenanthridines from simple aryl iodides and alkyl/aryl nitriles via the palladium-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of aryl iodides to nitriles followed by cascade formation of C-C and C-N bonds viz. in situ generated imine directed sequential two fold C-H activation.