The palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction of 2-chloroaryl sulfonates with arylamine and amide nucleophiles provides direct access to N-arylbenzimidazoles. This strategy selectively produces the heterocycles based on chemoselective oxidative addition. 2-Chloroaryl triflates (Tf) produce one regioisomer and the corresponding 2-chloroaryl mesylates (Ms) deliver the other in a selectable manner.