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): ##STR1## 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. R.sub.1 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.