Comparative study on the preparation of C(3)-hydroxy-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones

C(3)-Hydroxy-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones 1–3 have been prepared in high yields using a new, two step approach. In the first step, the 3-deoxy-precursors 4–6 were acetylated at C(3) using the redox-system lead tetraacetate and iodine, or potassium iodide, in acetic acid. The intermediary acetates 9–11 were quantitatively hydrolyzed into 1–3 in non-aqueous conditions, i.e. in a methanol-methylene chloride solvent mixture in the presence of sodium methoxide. Another route to the title compounds has been improved as follows. The yields of C(3)-bromination of compounds 4–6 has been significantly augmented in relation to the known methods using the strong trifluoroacetic acid in very dilute carbon tetrachloride solutions as a catalyst for NBS mediated bromination. The intermediary C(3)-bromo derivatives have been acetoxylated in situ, and compounds 9–11 have been isolated in over 80% yield. These compounds were solvolyzed into 1–3 as described above. The third part of this paper describes the search for feasible reaction conditions in the synthesis of 3 according to a known method (Scheme 1.); optimization of the yields in all steps was performed.