The preparation of 2,4-disubstituted imidazoles from thecondensation of
-haloketones with amidines is described. Theoptimal reaction protocol is to add the
-bromoketone solutionto the amidine in aqueous tetrahydrofuran in the presence ofpotassium bicarbonate under vigorous reflux. Imidazole wasisolated in 83-91% yield with >95% purity without columnchromatography.