One pot conversion of azido arenes to N-arylacetamides and N-arylformamides:: synthesis of 1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-diones and fused [2,1-b]quinazolinones

Sodium iodide in acidic media has been employed for the synthesis of N-arylformamides and N-arylacetamides. The NaI/acetic acid reagent system has also been extended for the synthesis of 1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-diones, pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-5,11-diones, and fused [2,1-b]quinazolinones. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.