Process For Preparing N-Substituted Cyclic Imides

摘要

In a process for making an N-substituted phthalimide compound, an amine is contacted with a carboxylic acid anhydride and allowed to react in an aqueous solution at a pH of about 2 to about 6. Optionally, the reactants are combined with an acid to lower the pH of the reaction solution wherein the lowering of the pH optimizes the yield of the desired N-substituted phthalimide product. The N-substituted phthalimide may be, for example, N-hydroxyphthalimide, and the reactants may be phthalic anhydride and hydroxylamine or a salt thereof. The N-substituted phthalimide compound is useful for, among other things, the oxidation of various hydrocarbons.