Abstract α-Haloacetanilides Ia-e react with hexamine in ethanol giving the bisimidazolidin-4- one derivatives IIa-e, which hydrolize, in acidic media into the corresponding mono- imidazolidin-4-ones IIIa-e. The compounds IIa-d were converted into 1, 4-benzodiazepin-2- ones, under different conditions and in the presence of a variety of agents. The yields were between 50 and 100%.