By reacting 1,3-dihydro-7-nitro-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one (I) with sodium methoxide (A) and chloromethylmethylether in dimethylformamide (1); by treating the 4,5-dihydro-4-p-tolylsulfonyl derivative (II) with sodium methoxide in dimethyl formamide (2) or by heating the 4-hydroxy derivative (III) in toluene containing dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (3).