This paper describes the synthesis of 2-substituted and 2,3-disubstituted 4(3H)-quinazolinones via a tandem reaction involving anthranilamides and aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by 3 mol% CuO powder under air atmosphere. This new method has several advantages: it uses recyclable and cheap CuO powder as the catalyst and air as the green oxidant, water is the only byproduct, and the solvent is recycled. It is easy to run, has a high atom economy and good to excellent yields. A mechanism for the CuO-catalyzed synthesis of the 4(3H)-quinazolinones is proposed.