An I2-mediated protocol was proposed for the synthesis of 3-phenoxy imidazo heterocycles from aromatic ketones and 2-aminopyridines or 2-aminobenzothiazole. This direct, efficient and operationally simple method provided a fundamentally novel and rapid approach for the synthesis of 3-phenoxy imidazo heterocycles with good to excellent yields, and it avoided the requirement of any metal, base and extra