Substitution reactions of phenanthro[9,10‐ d ]triazole with benzyl chlorides

The reaction of the potassium salt of phenanthro[9,10‐ d ]triazole and benzyl chloride gave 2‐(benzyl)‐2 H ‐phenanthro[9,10‐ d ]triazole ( 2a ) in 15% yield. The other regio‐isomer, 1‐(benzyl)‐1 H ‐phenanthro[9,10‐ d ]‐triazole ( 1a ), was obtained as a by‐product in 3.9% yield. Similar reactions with benzyl chlorides having a methyl, a chloro or a nitro group on the aromatic ring gave the corresponding two products, 1b‐j and 2b‐j . In all cases, 2b‐j were major products in yields of 14–62%, 1b‐j were minor ones in yields of 1.4–7.6%. The structures of the isomers were confirmed by X‐ray crystal analyses.