Methyl l, &disubstituted imidazole-4-carboxylates 1 were synthesized using methyl 3- substituted 3-bromo-2-isocyanoacrylates 3 (BICA), and the reaction mechanism was elucidated. Reactions of 3, which were prepared by bromination of 3-substituted 2- (formy1amino) acrylates 6 followed by dehydration of the formylamino group, with a variety of primary amines gave imidazoles 1 in good overall yields. A mechanistic study ...