Phthalimide

Phthalimide is the organic compound with the formula C6H4(CO)2NH. It is the imide derivative of phthalic anhydride. It is a sublimable white solid that is slightly soluble in water but more so upon addition of base. It is used as a precursor to other organic compounds as a masked source of ammonia. Phthalimide is the organic compound with the formula C6H4(CO)2NH. It is the imide derivative of phthalic anhydride. It is a sublimable white solid that is slightly soluble in water but more so upon addition of base. It is used as a precursor to other organic compounds as a masked source of ammonia. Phthalimide can be prepared by heating phthalic anhydride with aqueous ammonia giving 95–97% yield. Alternatively, it may be prepared by treating the anhydride with ammonium carbonate or urea. It can also be produced by ammoxidation of o-xylene. Phthalimide is used as a precursor to anthranilic acid, a precursor to azo dyes and saccharin. Alkyl phthalimides are useful precursors to amines in chemical synthesis, especially in peptide synthesis where they are used 'to block both hydrogens and avoid racemization of the substrates'. Alkyl halides can be converted to the N-alkylphthalimide: