Racemic azepines synthesized from anilines were shown to be poorly soluble . Hence, the enantiopure central precursor dibromide (aR)-1 was prepared in three steps from commercially available enantiopure (aR)-binaphthol following refs. and . In a first attempt to synthesize anthranilic acid derivative 6 from anthranilic acid (Figure ), we attempted substitution of the bromide leaving groups by heating to 130 • C in DMF.