A catalytic oxidative cyclization of 2-amino-pyridines or 2-aminobenzothiazole with 2-phenoxyacetophe-nones (a kind of lignin platform compound) was developed, efficiently providing valuable 3-phenoxy imidazo [1,2-a]-pyridines or 3-phenoxy benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles. The reaction was realized under oxygen by simply using inexpensive CuI as the catalyst.