Imidazole-Promoted Synthesis of N-Substituted Phthalimide from N,N′-Disubstituted Ureas in Solventless Conditions

Abstract

A series of N-substituted phthalimides was synthesized by a thermal reaction between N,N′-disubstituted ureas and phthalic acid catalyzed by imidazole in solventless conditions. The products have been obtained in moderate to good yields (53–92%).

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental file.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Imidazole
• phthalimide
• solventless
• urea

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Pernambuco State Foundation of Science and Technology (FACEPE-PRONEM No. 1232.1.06/10) for financial support and DQF-UFPE for obtaining the spectral data.

Notes

^a Chemical yield of pure product after recrystallization from ethanol.

^b Experiment performed employing 2 eq. of urea and 1.5 eq. of imidazole.

^a Experiment has been done at 25-mmol scale.