A wide variety of quinazolinone derivatives have been synthesized by condensation of 3-amino-1,2,4-trazole and 2-aminobenzimidazole as amine sources, with aromatic aldehydes and dimedone in the presence of 10 mol % of molecular iodine in acetonitrile under reflux conditions through one-pot reactions. Environmental acceptability, low cost, no need of chromatographic separation, and high yields are the important features of this protocol. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.