DDQ in mechanochemical C–N coupling reactions

2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) is a commonly known oxidant. Herein, we report that DDQ can be used to synthesize 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles and quinazolin-4(3H)-ones via the intra- and intermolecular C-N coupling reaction under solvent-free mechanochemical (ball milling) conditions. In the presence of DDQ, the intramolecular C(sp2)-H amidation of N-(2-(arylideneamino)phenyl)-p-toluenesulfonamides leads to 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles and the one-pot coupling of 2-aminobenzamides with aryl/alkyl aldehydes resulted in substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives in high yields.