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N-Alkyl enamines can be transformed into 2,4,5-trisubsituted imidazoles by reacting with (diacetoxy-iodo)-benzene and TMSN3 under the catalysis of a copper salt such as Cu-(OAc)2. Tetrabutyl ammonium iodide was also capable of promoting the reaction. The transformation from N-alkyl enamines into 2,4,5-trisubsituted imidazoles took place in a domino azidation/intramolecular C-(sp3)–H amination pattern. The present reaction provides a new efficient method for the preparation of 4-(trifluoromethyl) imidazoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]