Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C−H bond functionalization of trifluoroacetimidoyl chloride derivatives: Synthesis of 6-trifluoromethyl-phenanthridines

Highly efficient approaches to obtain 6-trifluoromethyl-phenanthridine derivatives have been realized through the palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C–H bond functionalization of trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides. The reaction allows the direct formation of CSp2–CSp2 bonds via C–H bond functionalization and rapid access to phenanthridine ring systems in moderate to high yields with good functional group tolerance.