Phthalimide

Phthalimide is an imide, which is a chemical compound with two carbonyl groups bound to a primary amine or ammonia. It is a white solid at room temperature.

Uses
Phthalimide is used in plastics in chemical synthesis, and in research.

Reactivity
It forms salts with various metals such as potassium and sodium due to its high acidity caused by the electrophilic carbonyl groups attached to the nitrogen atom, and can be made by reacting phthalimide with metal carbonates. Potassium phthalimide, made by reacting phthalimide with potassium carbonate in water at 100°C, is used in the Gabriel synthesis of primary amines, and the Gabriel synthesis of glycine has yields as high as 85%.