The development of a novel palladium-catalysed amidation approach towards 5, 7, 8, 9- tetrahydropyrimido [4, 5-b][1, 4] diazepin-6-one templates is highlighted. The route proceeds through the reaction of an amino amide, generated by 1, 4-addition of an amine to an acrylamide, with 5-bromo-2, 4-dichloropyrimidine and final palladium-catalysed cyclisation to provide the functionalised scaffold in up to 60% isolated yield over three steps. The ...