Molecular iodine has been used an efficient catalyst for an improved and rapid one-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles in excellent yields. The significant features of the iodine-catalyzed condensation are operational simplicity, inexpensive reagents, high yield of products and the use of non-toxic reagents. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.