Copper-Catalyzed Annulation: A Method for the Systematic Synthesis of Phenanthridinium Bromide.

A novel procedure for the Cu-catalyzed systematic synthesis of phenanthridinium bromide is reported. This transformation was achieved with direct construction of central pyridinium core by using an in situ formed biaryl imine as a substrate. Tolerance of a very wide variety of N-substituents is indicated; this has never previously been disclosed by other reports.