A synthetic route to C(4/5)-bis(phosphinoyl)imidazole-2-thiones (7d,e) (d: R(1) = (n)Bu, R(2) = Me; e: R(1) = n-dodecyl, R(2) = Me) and C(4/5)-bis(thio/selenophosphinoyl)imidazole-2-thiones (8b,c), (9a,b,e) and 10a (a: R(1) = R(2) = Me; b: R(1) = R(2) = Ph, c: R(1) = (i)Pr, R(2) = Me) is presented that employs initial C(5) lithiation of mono-phosphinoyl/thiophosphinoyl substituted imidazole-2-t...