Polycyclic arene imines are a class of highly potent mutagens that exhibit generally higher activity than the corresponding arene oxides. Efficient syntheses of adducts between a model polycyclic aromatic imine derivative of phenanthrene and the nucleoside adenosine, guanosine, cytidine, 2'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-deoxyguanosine are described. These compounds are needed as standards for identification of adducts formed by reaction of polycyclic arene imines with DNA in cells.