Schmidt reaction (sodium azide/sulfuric acid) of 1,5- and of 1,8-dichloroanthraquinones gives, in each case, both of the theoretically possible lactams (2,3,5,6-dibenzoazepin-4,7-diones). Two of the four theoretically possible lactams have been identified from Schmidt reaction of 1- and 2-chloroanthraquinones respectively. Methods used include: (a) preferential hydrolysis of one lactam and identification of the isomeric aminoanthraquinone formed on cyclodehydration of the resulting amino acid; (b) identification of the isomeric aminoanthraquinone(s) formed on direct treatment of a lactam (or mixture of lactams) by sulfuric acid; (c) cleavage by potassium tert-butoxide of the amino acid formed by preferential hydrolysis of one lactam and identification of the resulting benzoic acid as its methyl ester.