N,N-Diethylformamide undergoes condensation with aromatic o-aminonitriles in the presence of ZnCl2 in sealed reactor to yield quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione[3].N,N-Diethylformamide was used in the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks. It was also used as solvent in the synthesis of porous cubic-shaped ZnO particles N,N-Diethylformamide undergoes condensation with aromatic o-aminonitriles in the presence of ZnCl2 in sealed reactor to yield quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione[3]. N,N-Diethylformamide was used in the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks. It was also used as solvent in the synthesis of porous cubic-shaped ZnO particles