Abstract
The photolysis of the isoquinoline N-imides (12a-g) under basic conditions gave the corresponding 5H-2, 3-benzodiazepines (13), presumably via the 1H-2, 3-benzodiazepines (17), together with the parent isoquinolines (14), whereas irradiation of these N-imides (12) under neutral conditions gave no diazepines. Treatment of the 1-methyl-5H-diazepines (13b, f) with acetic anhydride gave the 3-acetyl-3H-2, 3-benzodiazepines (18), which reverted back to the 5H-diazepines (13) on hydrolysis. However, the 1-unsubstituted 5H-diazepines showed no such conversion. Some reactions of the 5H-diazepines (13) thus obtained were also examined.
