Potassium hydroxide (KOH) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) forms a superbasic medium that allows one to access cross-coupling products from reactions between aryl halides with various sulfur-, oxygen-and nitrogen-based nucleophiles under transition metal-free conditions.

Benzimidazoles are prepared by intramolecular N-arylations of amidines mediated by potassium hydroxide in DMSO at 120 °C. In this manner, diversely substituted products have been obtained in moderate to very good yields.

Potassium tert-butoxide-mediated intramolecular α-arylations of fluoro- and chloro-substituted anilides provide oxindoles in DMF at 80 °C. In this manner, diversely substituted products have been obtained in moderate to high yields.

A new protocol for intramolecular N-arylations of ureas to form benzimidazol-2-ones has been developed. The cyclization reaction occurs in the presence of KOH and DMSO at close to ambient temperature. Under these conditions the yields are high and a wide range of functional groups are tolerated.

Regioselective Cu‐catalyzed Ullmann‐type N‐arylation of 3‐aminopyrazoles (I) with aryl iodides and the Chan—Evans‐type coupling of 3‐amino‐1‐aryl‐pyrazole (IIIb) with arylboronic acids proceed with good to excellent yields.