1-Benzyl-2-(ethoxycarbonylmethylene)-2, 3, 4, 5-tetrahydroimidazole undergoes preferred C- alkylation with halogenoalkanes, dihalogenoalkanes and epoxides; subsequent removal of of the ethoxycarbonyl group provides a new route to 2-alkyl-4, 5-dihydroimidazoles. 1, 3- Dihalogenoalkanes afford imidazo [1, 2-a] pyridines viaC, N-dialkylation.