A new and mild synthetic approach for the synthesis of 6-unsubstituted phenanthridine and phenanthridine-like compounds under metal-free conditions at room temperature has been developed. The strategy involved a tandem azide rearrangement/intramolecular annulation and oxidation reactions of biarylmethyl azide precursors to obtain the desired products in up to 99% yields with high regioselectivity.

Halomonochloride compounds (ClCl, BrCl, ICl) generated in situ from N-halosuccinimide and catalytic chlorotrimethylsilane (TMSCl, 0.1 equiv) can efficiently halogenate aromatic compounds to give halogenated products in good to excellent yields and selectivities. The reaction can be carried out at room temperature or at lower temperatures, requires only one hour, is practical to apply to a wide range of substrates, and provides a simple access to a variety of haloarene compounds.