Iodine-mediated cyclization of N-thioacyl 1,2-aminoalcohols derived from aromatic aldehydes and ketones mainly produced bis(1-imidazo[1,5-a]pyridyl)arylmethanes, whereas the reaction of N-thioacyl 1,2-aminoalcohols derived from aliphatic aldehydes and N-thioacyl 1,2-aminoalcohols protected with a silyl group with iodine gave imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-1-ylalkylalcohols as a major product.