Electrochemical trifluoromethylation of 2-isocyanobiaryls using CF 3 SO 2 Na: synthesis of 6-(trifluoromethyl)phenanthridines.

An efficient trifluoromethylation of 2-isocyanobiaryls was developed through the constant current electrolysis, employing sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (CF 3 SO 2 Na) as the trifluoromethyl source. The method enabled the syntheses of a series of 6-(trifluoromethyl)phenanthridine derivatives in moderate to high yields under metal- and oxidant-free conditions. A gram-scale synthesis highlights the synthetic versatility of the reported protocol.