Novel 1,4 methylene transfer from a Simmons-Smith reagent to 1-aryl-4-secondary amino-4-methylthio or methyl-2-phenyl-1,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes leading to 1-aryl-2-phenyl-4-secondary amino or methyl-imidazoles are described. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.