Iron-Catalyzed Oxidative Decabonylation/Radical Cyclization of Aliphatic Aldehydes with Biphenyl Isocyanides: A New Pathway For the Synthesis of 6-Alkylphenanthridines

A facile and efficient synthetic approach to C6 functionalized phenanthridines was developed. The iron catalyzed oxidative reaction undergoes subsequent decarbonylation, radical addition and cyclization processes by using aliphatic aldehydes as the alkyl radical precursors. This protocol offers a new pathway for the synthesis of 6-alkylphenanthridines.