A novel copper-catalyzed regioselective double carbonylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with N,N-disubstituted acetamide or acetone using molecular oxygen has been described. It has provided a new approach to synthesize 1,2-carbonyl imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, which are important substrates and intermediates in preparation of fine chemicals. The product shares a skeleton similar to that of Zolpidem, one of the most prescribed drugs in the world. (18)O-labeling experiments unambiguously established that the oxygen source of products originated from O2 rather than H2O.