An efficient and selective one-pot two-step method, for the synthesis of quinoxalines by oxidative coupling of vicinal diols with 1,2-phenylenediamine derivatives, has been developed by using gold nanoparticles supported on nanoparticulated ceria (Au/CeO2) or hydrotalcite (Au/HT) as catalysts and air as oxidant, in the absence of any homogeneous base. Reaction kinetics shows that the reaction controlling step is the oxidation of the diol to a-hydroxycarbonyl compound. Furthermore, a one-pot three-step synthesis of 2-methylquinoxaline starting from 1,2-dinitrobenzene and 1,2-propanediol has been success fully carried out with 98% conversion and 83% global yield to the final product. The authors wish to acknowledge the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science for the financial support in the projects Consolider-Ingenio 2010 and CTQ-2011-27550. Generalitat Valenciana is also thanked for funding through the Prometeo program. S.M.S thanks Spanish Ministry of Education and Science for FPI fellowships.