Green, One-Pot, Solvent-Free Synthesis of 1,2,4,5-Tetrasubstituted Imidazoles Using a Brønsted Acidic Ionic Liquid as Novel and Reusable Catalyst

3-Methyl-1-(4-sulfonic acid)butylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate [(CH2)4SO3HMIM][HSO4], a Brønsted acidic ionic liquid, has been used as an efficient, green, and reusable catalyst for the synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles using benzil, an aromatic aldehyde, and a primary amine in the presence of ammonium acetate under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst could be recycled and reused several times without noticeably decreasing the catalytic activity.