1,5-Benzo[b]- and 1,5-naphtho[2,3-b]diazepines were synthesized by the reaction of lithium 1,3-diketonates with 1,2-diaminobenzene and 2,3-diaminonaphthalene in an MeOH-AcOH-HCl mixture at 0 °C. The reactions of fluoroalkyl-containing lithium 1,3-diketonates with 1,2-diaminobenzene and 1,2-diamino-4,5-difluorobenzene under reflux in acetic acid afford 2-fluoroalkyl-containing benzimidazoles as the major products, whereas the reaction with 2-aminothiophenol gives 2-phenylbenzothiazole. The reactions of lithium diketonate containing the cyclohexane and cyclopentane moieties with 1,2-diaminoarenes and 2-aminobenzenethiol are accompanied by the opening of the carbocycle to form 2-(6-oxo-7,7,7-trifluoroheptyl)benzimidazole and 2-(5-oxo-6,6,6-trifluorohexyl)benzothiazole hydrates, respectively.