The preparation of 2,4-disubstituted imidazoles from the condensation of alpha-haloketones with amidines is described. The optimal reaction protocol is to add the alpha-bromoketone solution to the amidine in aqueous tetrahydrofuran in the presence of potassium bicarbonate under vigorous reflux. Imidazole was isolated in 83-91% yield with >95% purity without column chromatography.