Irradiation of the 3-azidoquinolines (6a-c) in the presence of sodium methoxide resulted in ring expansion to give the fully unsaturated 3-methoxy-3H-1, 4-benzodiazepines (8). Further treatment of the 2-unsubstituted 3H-1, 4-benzodiazepine (8a) with sodium methoxide in methanol gave the solvent adduct 7, which reverted to 8a on being refluxed in benzene, whereas the 2-substituted 3H-1, 4-benzodiazepines (8b, c), upon treatment with sodium ...