📗 High yielding, one pot protocol for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazole and benzoxazole derivatives from readily available o-phenylenediamines/ o-aminophenol and aromatic aldehydes, under microwave and convenient conditions has been developed. The conditions are mild. A wide range of functional groups can be tolerated by the protocol. ENPFSA as catalyst offers advantages including simplicity of operation, easy workup, high yields with excellent purity, short reaction time and the recyclability of the catalyst