The synthesis of quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones from carbon dioxide and 2-aminobenzonitriles using MgO/ZrO2 as a novel and efficient heterogeneous base catalyst is reported. The synthesized MgO/ZrO2 catalyst was characterized by XRD, FTIR and its basic properties were measured using CO2 temperature programed desorption analysis. The effects of various reaction parameters were investigated in detail. A wide variety of aromatic aminobenzonitriles and five member N-heterocyclic carbonitriles were synthesized using this protocol.