New aspects of the chemistry of 2,3-dihydro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepine

Abstract

Under basic catalysis conditions the reaction of 4- and 4'-substituted chalcones with o-phenylenediamine leads to 2,3-dihydro-2,4-diaryl-1H-1,5-benzodiazepines; β-amino adducts, the ability of which to undergo intramolecular condensation increases as the basicity of the catalyst is increased, are formed as intermediates. A different pathway for the process (the formation of an azomethine) is observed in the reaction with cinnamaldehyde. It is concluded that conformational factors play a primary role in the direction of the reaction.