p-Nitrobenzoic acid was found to be the versatile Bronsted organic acid promoter among the carboxylic acids tested for the preparation of 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives from a wide range of substituted o-phenylenediamines and ketones. The corresponding products were obtained in good isolated yields (62-92%) under mild conditions using acetonitrile as solvent at ambient temperature. Further, the reagent could be easily recovered and reused.
1,5-benzodiazepines; bronsted acid; o-phenylenediamines and ketones; p-nitrobenzoic acid
