N-Substituted phenoxazines and related aza analogs have been prepared from N-acetylated aryloxy anilides by transition-metal-free, base-catalyzed cyclization reactions. In the presence of a mixture of 10 mol % of N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA) and 2 equiv of K(2)CO(3) in toluene at 135 °C the products are obtained in high yields.