Reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with o‐phenylenediamine or 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine in water or under solvent‐free conditions via microwave irradiation

Reaction of ophenylenediamine with β‐diketones or β‐ketoesters in water formed 2‐substituted benzimi‐dazoles. Reaction of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine gave similar results. Under microwave irradiation conditions solvent‐free reaction of o‐phenylenediamine with β‐ketoesters afforded l,5‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one derivatives. An exception is the reaction of o‐phenylenediamine with ethyl acetoacetate under microwave irradiation, which gave 2‐methylbenzimidazole.