An efficient synthetic route to 7-hydroxypyrrolo [2, 1-c][1, 4] benzodiazepine-5, 11-dione, an important potential ligand for the DNA minor groove, has been developed. Simultaneous reduction of nitro and hydrogenolysis of the O-benzyl in N-(5-benzyloxy-2-nitrobenzoyl)-l- proline methyl ester, followed by thermal cyclisation, gave 7-hydroxypyrrolo [2, 1-c][1, 4] benzodiazepine-5, 11-dione. This was alkylated to give the prop-2-ynyl ether. Reaction of ...