A rapid and versatile, transition metal free, green methodology for the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted-1H-imidazoles, using gem-dibromo vinylarenes and amidines is described. The disclosed strategy utilizes a combination of the easily available and nontoxic, naturally occurring mild base, NaHCO3 and the ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate [bmim][BF4], for promoting the successive aminations through intermolecular C(sp2)-N and intramolecular C(sp2)-N bonds formation to furnish diverse disubstituted imidazole derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]