Abstract A new series of methyl and ethyl w-(6-phenanthridinyl) alkanoates is easily synthesised from the acid chloride-esters ROCO (CH 2) n COCl (n= 0, 3 to 8; R= Me or Et). Reaction of these with o-aminobiphenyl leads to the expected amide-esters which are cyclised to phenanthridines quaternised to the corresponding phenanthridinium salts.
