<p>The novel approach to the preparation of imidazole-substituted cyclic iodonium salts has been developed via oxidative cyclization of 1-phenyl-5-iodoimidazole using cheap and available Oxone^®/H₂SO₄ oxidative system. The structure of newly prepared compounds has been proved by X-ray monocrystal diffractometry revealing the characteristic surface features for cyclic iodonium salts. The prepared compounds demonstrated the high reactivity in the heterocyclization reactions with elemental sulfur affording benzo[5,1-<i>b</i>]imidazothiazoles with good yields.</p>

<p>The novel approach to the preparation of imidazole-substituted cyclic iodonium salts has been developed via oxidative cyclization of 1-phenyl-5-iodoimidazole using cheap and available Oxone^®/H₂SO₄ oxidative system. The structure of newly prepared compounds has been proved by X-ray monocrystal diffractometry revealing the characteristic surface features for cyclic iodonium salts. The prepared compounds demonstrated the high reactivity in the heterocyclization reactions with elemental sulfur affording benzo[5,1-<i>b</i>]imidazothiazoles with good yields.</p>