A facile synthesis of 2,4,8,10-tetrahalo-6,12-diaryldibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocines

3,5-Dihalo-2-aminobenzophenones 2 on prolonged reflux in dry pyridine gave 2,4,8,10-tetrahalo-6,12- diaryldibenzob,f]1,5]diazocines 3 in high yields. Attempted condensation of 2 with glycine ester hydrochloride under identical reaction conditions failed to afford 1,4-benzodiazepines.