A mild and efficient synthesis of benzodiazepines using La(NO3)3.6H2O as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions

An efficient and clean synthesis of benzodiazepines is described by the reaction of o-phenylenediamine with different types of methyl/ methylene ketones in the presence of catalytic amounts of La(NO3)(3).6H(2)O under solvent-free conditions at room temperature in excellent yields. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.