Atropisomeric Properties of the Dibenzo[b,d]azepin-6-one Nucleus

Dibenzo[b,d]azepin-6-ones (2a,b) were separated by chiral HPLC into the aR- and aS-atropisomers with high stereochemical stability, and methylation at C7 of 2a stereoselectively gave the (aR*,7R*) isomer (4a), which converted to the thermodynamically stable (aS*,7R*) atropisomer (5a) after heating.