Synthesis of furazano-substituted 1,5-diazepines

A series of furazano-substituted 1,5-diazepines have been synthesized from the reaction of a methyl ketone and 3,4-diaminofurazan in the presence of a mild Lewis acid. The reaction was found to be regiospecific. Other ketone substrates also yielded diazepines, however, these products were found to be unstable and decomposed upon contact with air.