Reductive Condensation of a Nitro Group with Carboxylic Acids Promoted by Phosphorus(III) Compounds: A Short Route to 5H-Dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-11(10H)-ones

Tributyl- or triphenylphosphine promotes a one-pot, three-step method for the synthesis of differently substituted dibenzodiazepinones from N-aryl-2-nitroanilines. Pyridine analogues and the corresponding thiazepinones can also be formed using this method. The process involves deoxygenation of the nitro group, then formation of an iminophosphorane intermediate and its intramolecular condensation with a carboxyl group placed in the N-aryl group. The role of the carboxyl group in the formation of the iminophosphorane and the mode of cyclization are discussed.