[Ru(TPP)CO]‐Catalysed Intramolecular Benzylic CH Bond Amination, Affording Phenanthridine and Dihydrophenanthridine Derivatives

Shedding light on azides: [Ru(TPP)CO] (TPP=tetraphenyl porphyrin dianion), white light and O2 were found to be a suitable catalyst combination to perform the annulation of several biaryl azides (see scheme). The high chemoselectivity of the process allows the synthesis of phenanthridines and dihydrophenanthridines in good yield and purity.