Cascade Reaction of Arylboronic Acids and 2'-Cyano-biaryl-2-aldehyde N-Tosylhydrazones: Access to Functionalized 9-Amino-10-arylphenanthrenes.

An efficient, general, and convenient protocol for the synthesis of functionalized 9-amino-10-arylphenanthrene derivatives using a catalyst-free cascade reaction of arylboronic acids and 2'-cyano-biaryl-2-aldehyde N-tosylhydrazones is described. The synthesis was carried out via simple experimental conditions using Na2CO3 in 1,4-dioxane as a solvent. Moreover, the 9-amino-10-arylphenanthrene compounds were also obtained on a gram scale and further derivatized to synthesize the fused phenanthrene derivatives.