Abstract A straightforward strategy for the synthesis of imidazole-fused benzodiazocine from 1-(2-nitrophenyl)-1H-imidazole-2-carbaldehyde via Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction followed by reductive intramolecular cyclization is described. Alternatively the Horner–Wadsworth– Emmons reaction of this substrate with triethyl phosphonoacetate yielded (E)-ethyl 3-(1-(2- nitrophenyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl) acrylate which upon sequential reduction, saponification ...