An iodine/CuI mediated double oxidative C–H amination reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2-iodo-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. The salient features of this methodology are mild reaction conditions and high regioselectivity. The designed compounds e.g. 2-iodo-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines (3e) may serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of marketed drugs like saripidem and nicopidem. Further saripidem was synthesised by using 3e as an intermediate.