An efficient aqueous sodium dichloroiodate (NaICl2) mediated protocol is developed for the synthesis of benzofused azoles by the cyclization of 2-amino anilines/thiophenols/phenols with β-diketone compounds. The reactions gave moderate to good yield of the corresponding 2-substituted benzimidazoles/benzothiazoles/benzoxazoles under mild conditions. This tandem process involved a C-C bond cleavage and C-N bond formation.
