A total of 25 benzo[j][1,7]phenanthroline and cyclopenta[j][1,7]phenanthroline derivatives were synthesized in EtOH under catalyst-free conditions. This procedure included a three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, line-library/content/render" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="jhet2574-eo-0003">quinolin-7-amine, and active methylene compounds and provided an efficient and green access to the synthesis of [1,7]phenanthrolines in high yields.