An efficient synthetic route of quinoxalines from diols catalyzed by [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2/1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane

•A [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2/diphosphine catalytic system is developed for producing quinoxalines.•Quinoxalines/H2 are produced via dehydrogenative coupling of aryl diamines/vicinal diols.•Quinoxalines are obtained in high yields (up to 93%) and turnover numbers (up to 744).•This efficient homogeneous system is performed under a practically neutral condition.