4,N-Diaryl-1,5-benzodiazepine-2-carboxamides were synthesized by acid-catalyzed reaction of (Z)-4,N-diaryl-2-hydroxy-4-oxo-2-butenamides with o-phenylenediamine or N,N'-bis(triphenylphosphoranediyl)-o-phenylenediamine. The reaction mechanism is discussed.