A facile large scale synthesis of optically active 3-amino-5-(2-pyridyl)-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one derivatives

A facile method for the synthesis of 3-amino-5-(2-pyridyl)-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones (8) mediated by benzotriazole is described. The synthesis and optical resolution of the product by fractional crystallisation proceeds in high yield, under mild conditions and without recourse to toxic reagents or chromatographic separations and hence is amenable to the large scale preparation of these important precursors to potent CCK receptor ligands.