Diazepines. VI. The chemistry of 3,8-dihalo-11H-dibenzo[c,f] [1,2]diazepin-11-ones

The carbonyl group in the title compounds undergoes a number of reactions typical of ketones but in general is less reactive than a typical ketone. Reaction with hydrazine leads to reduction of the 5,6-bond rather than reaction at the carbonyl group. Reduction of the carbonyl group gives rise to a rather inert carbinol. The carbonyl group appears to exert little influence on typical reactions at the 5,6-position.