Research on nitrogen containing heterocyclic compounds. XIX: Synthesis of 8H-imidazo[2,1-c]-s-triazolo[4,3-a]-[1,4]benzodiazepine and its 1-derivatives

Reaction of 2-nitrobenzyl iodide with 1H-imidazole, in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide and 18-crown-6, gave 1-(2-nitrobenzyl)-1H-imidazole. Trichloroacetylation of this compound furnished trichloroacet-ylimidazole 8 , which on treatment with sodium ethoxide was transformed into the corresponding ethoxycarbonyl derivative 9 . Catalytic reduction of the nitro group to the amino group yielded 10 , which was then cyclized to 10,11-dihydro-11-oxo-5H-imidazo2,1-c]1,4]benzodiazepine 11. Treatment of this lactam with di-4-morpholinylphosphinic chloride followed by reaction of the intermediate 12 with formylhydrazine gave the title compound or its 1-derivatives when acetylhydrazine or isonicotinoylhydrazine were used instead of formylhydrazine.