Transition-metal-free, visible-light induced cyclization of arylsulfonyl chlorides with 2-isocyanobiphenyls to produce phenanthridines

6-Aryl substituted phenanthridines were synthesized via a visible-light-catalyzed cyclization of 2-isocyanobiphenyls with arylsulfonyl chlorides under oxidant-free and transition-metal-free conditions. This transformation represents an efficient and attractive synthetic utilization of arylsulfonyl chlorides.