A simple, economical, and environmentally friendly copper-catalysed direct oxidative C–N coupling of 2-aminopyridines with β-keto esters using air as oxidation agent for the creation of imidazo[1,2- a]pyridine-3-carboxylates is demonstrated. Imidazo[1,2- a]pyridine is the basic skeleton for a wide range of biological and pharmacological compounds.