Abstract An easy synthesis of 1-aryl-1H-4, 5-dihydroimidazoles 1 by cyclocondensation of N- aryl-N′-formylethylenediamines 2 is described. Such precursors were synthesized by selective formylation of N-arylethylenediamines 3 with p-nitrophenyl formate. Cyclizations were performed using trimethylsilyl polyphosphate. Chemical properties of compounds 1, typical of amidine system, were studied. Reaction of 1 with methyl iodide leads to the ...