1-Fluoro-, 1-chloro- and 1-cyanonaphthalene were lithiated and then borylated at the 2-position. The 1-substituted naphthaleneboronic esters were cross-coupled with aryl halides to give 2-aryl-1-fluoro-, 2-aryl-1-chloro- and 2-aryl-1-cyanonaphthalenes. The 2-aryl-1-cyano- and 2-aryl-1-fluoronaphthalenes were reacted with n-butyllithium or lithium morpholide to give new benzophenanthridine derivatives.