A facile transition-metal-free regioselective halogenation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using sodium chlorite/bromite as the halogen source is presented. The reaction has provided an efficient method for the formation of C–Cl or C–Br bonds to synthesize 3-chloro or 3-bromo-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines which were then efficiently transformed into imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine core π-systems by Suzuki–Miyaura reactions.