A highly efficient diversified methodology for preparation of benzimidazole, quinazolin-4(3H)-ones and 1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-diones is established using a palladium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation (CTH)/condensation cascade of o-nitroaniline and o-nitrobenzamides in a triethylamine–formic acid azeotropic mixture (2 : 5) under microwave irradiation.
