Multisite solid catalyst for cascade reactions: the direct synthesis of benzodiazepines from nitro compounds.

Substituted 1,5-benzodiazepines are selectively synthesized in one pot from substituted nitroaromatics and ketones. The reaction is performed in the presence of hydrogen and in the absence of solvent by using a bifunctional solid catalyst with a chemoselective hydrogenation functional group capable of reducing the nitro group to a diamino group and an acid functional group, which catalyzes the cyclocondensation of the amino group with the ketone.