slight yellow-green to white powder
Potassium Phthalimide is a green, solid-base organocatalys.
Condensation of phthalimide potassium with organic halide in dimethylformamide has been reported. Reaction of potassium phthalimide and sulfur monochloride in petroleum ether has been studied.
Potassium phthalimide is usually used as organocatalyst for the cyanosilylation of various carbonyl compounds under extremely mild conditions,and also used as reagent for the transformation of allyl- and alkyl halides into protected primary amines.
The solid may contain phthalimide and K2CO3 from hydrolysis. If too much hydrolysis has occurred (this can be checked by extraction with cold Me2CO in which the salt is insoluble, evaporate the Me2CO and weigh the residue), it would be better to prepare it afresh. If little hydrolysis has occurred, then recrystallise it from a large volume of EtOH, and wash the solid with a little Me2CO and dry it in a continuous vacuum to constant weight. [Salzerg & Supriawski Org Synth Coll Vol I 119 1941, Raman & IR: Hase J Mol Struct 48 33 1978, Dykman Chem Ind (London) 40 1972, IR, NMR: Assef et al. Bull Soc Chim Fr II 167 1979, Beilstein 21/10 V 270.]
