Nitration of 7- and 8-methyl-4-R-1H-2, 3-dihydro-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-ones

4-R-8-Methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-ones are nitrated in the 7 position, whereas their 7-methyl analogs are nitrated in the 1, 8, or 9 position. The nitration of 4,8-dimethyldihydrobenzodiazepinone proceeds as primary substitution at the N₁ atom of the amide group. The resulting N₁-nitroamide undergoes prototropic rearrangement to the 9-nitro isomer in strongly acidic media.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 122–126, January, 1978.