2, 3-Dichloro-5, 6-dicyano-1, 4-benzoquinone (DDQ) catalyzes the preparation of N- tetrahydropyranylbenzazoles, 2-substituted 1, 3-diphenylimidazolidines, and N- (arylmethylene) benzene-1, 2-diamines. In the latter case, use of one equivalent of DDQ provides a novel one-pot method for the synthesis of 1H-benzimidazoles.