The reaction of 2,6-dichloro-3-nitropyridine (I) with 2-chlorobenzyl cyanide (II) by means of NaH in dioxane gives 2-(2-chloro-alpha-cyanobenzyl)-3-nitro-6-chloropyridine (III), which is oxidized with H2O2 and KOH in acetone yielding 2-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-3-nitro-6-chloropyridine (IV). The reduction of (IV) with H2 over Raney-Ni in dioxane affords 2-benzoyl-3-amino-6-chloropyridine (V), which is converted into 2-(2-chlorobenzoyloximino)-3-amino-6-chloropyridine (VI). The condensation of (VI) with chloroacetyl chloride (A) by means of HCl in HOAc gives 2-(2-chlorobenzoyloximino)-3-chloroacetylamino-6-chloropyridine (VII), which is cyclized by means of KOH in ethanol affording 5-(2-chlorophenyl)-7-chloro-6-aza-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one-4-oxide (VIII) with refluxing acetic anhydride yields 1-acetyl-3-acetoxy-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-7-chloro-6-aza-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one (IX). Finally this compound is deacetylated by treatment with KOH in ethanol at room temperature.