The orange title compound, C₁₉H₁₇N₃O₄S, can be synthesized either via microwave-mediated combinatorial chemistry strategies or conventional synthetic procedures. The phenyl and meta-nitrophenyl C₆ rings are essentially coplanar with the central imidazolyl ring, with interplanar angles of 0.87 (5) and 0.97 (4)°, respectively, resulting in optimum conjugation (SCH₂ moiety included); [lambda]max = 281 nm in CH₃CN. The principal intermolecular interactions are Nimid-H...Onitro and Nimid-H...O=C [N...O = 3.058 (2) and 3.432 (3) Å, and N-H...O = 128 and 153°, respectively]. The closest H...S distance is an intramolecular C-H...S contact, with H...S = 2.54 Å and C-H...S = 136°.