One-Step Synthesis of 7‑Bromobenzo[c]chromeno[4,3,2-gh]phenanthridines through a Sequential Bromination/Cyclization/Aromatization Reaction Using N‑Bromosuccinimide (NBS)

Herein, metal- and oxidant-free synthesis of 7-bromobenzo­[c]­chromeno­[4,3,2-gh]­phenanthridines is reported using N-bromosuccinimide. Sequential regioselective bromination, intramolecular ring cyclization, and aromatization reactions occur in a single step through a successive radical-catalyzed pathway. The mechanistic pathway for the cyclization is supported by a DFT study. Selective bromination in the fully aromatic skeleton is accomplished without involving additional aromatic electrophilic ring bromination. As a synthetic application, the Suzuki coupling reaction of compound 5a with boronic acid is reported to get compound 8a. Aggregation-induced emission of one of the synthesized compounds (5h) is also investigated in THF/hexane solvent along with concentration-dependent emission spectroscopy.