A new synthesis of 1,4-benzodiazepinediones 4 , particularly 1,4-dihyd
ro1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-dione,4c key intermediate of metabolites c
yclopenin 9, cyclopenol 10, cyclopeptine 11 and dehydrocyclopeptine 12
, was achieved by action of dry HCl gas in DMF on compound 3 prepared
from anthranilic acid derivative 1 and amino ester 2.