A Route to (Het)arene-Annulated Pyrrolo[1,2‑d][1,4]diazepines via the Expanded Intramolecular Paal–Knorr Reaction: Nitro Group and Furan Ring as Equivalents of Amino Group and 1,4-Diketone

A straightforward protocol toward pharmacologically relevant (het)­areno­[x,y-b]­pyrrolo­[1,2-d]­[1,4]­diazepines in good to high yields has been described. The designed approach consists of an acid-promoted furan ring opening in easily accessible N-(2-furylethyl)-2-nitroanilines or their heterocyclic analogues followed by the reductive cyclization of the corresponding nitro-1,4-diketones.