Hydrogenation of 1-anilino-2-nitrobenzene derivative (I) over Pd/C affords the corresponding diphenylamine (II), which is oxidatively condensed by means of FeCl3 and HCl or AcOH in EtOH to form the iminophenazine derivative (III). Finally, the target compound can be obtained by reaction of (III) with substituted amine (IV) in refluxing dioxane.