Copper-catalyzed synthesis of phenanthridine derivatives under an oxygen atmosphere starting from biaryl-2-carbonitriles and Grignard reagents.

A copper-catalyzed synthesis of phenanthridine derivatives was developed starting from biaryl-2-carbonitriles and Grignard reagents. The present transformation is carried out by a sequence of nucleophilic addition of Grignard reagents to biaryl-2-carbonitriles to form N-H imines and their Cu-catalyzed C-N bond formation on the aromatic C-H bond, where molecular oxygen is a prerequisite to achieve the catalytic process.