Preparation of N-alkylphthalimides assisted by solid-liquid phase-transfer systems

N-Alkylphtalimides are intermediates in the synthesis of primary amines1 and are generally prepared from potassium phtalimide and alkyl halides in anhydrous polar aprotic solvents such as dimethylformamide.2 Recently, N-alkylation of potassium phtalimide has been achieved from alkyl halides and methanesulfonates in toluene in the presence of hexadecyltributylphosphonium bromide3.