A new, one-pot palladium catalyzed reaction has been developed for the general synthesis of (E)-3-arylidene-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazines at room temperature. The reaction procedure tolerates various functional groups. The method is characterized by regio- and stereoselectivity, operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions, and short reaction time. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.