Intramolecular Direct C–H Bond Arylation from Aryl Chlorides: A Transition-Metal-Free Approach for Facile Access of Phenanthridines.

A C–H arylation with aryl chloride is made viable through a transition-metal-free approach. In the presence of a simple diol associating with KOt-Bu, various phenanthridine derivatives can be conveniently accessed. In particular, only 10 mol % of simple and inexpensive ethylene glycol is required for this protocol. These results represent the first general examples of aryl chloride/C–H coupling under transition-metal-free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]