Synthesis of bis (n-substituted phthalimide) ethers

摘要

Bis(N-substituted phthalimide)ethers are synthesized in a one-step process by heating a compound of the formula (I): with a catalytic amount of an alkali or alkaline earth metal carbonate in a polar aprotic solvent under ether-forming conditions, and recovering the bis(N-substituted phthalimide)ether from the reaction mixture. R₁ is hydrogen; a monovalent organic radical selected from a lower alkyl group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms; or an aromatic hydrocarbon radical, or halogen­ated derivative thereof, having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms. X is a leaving group.