It is a sublimable white solid that is slightly soluble in water but more so upon addition of base.

[4] Alkyl halides can be converted to the N-alkylphthalimide: The amine is commonly liberated using hydrazine: Dimethylamine can also be used.

[5] Some examples of phthalimide drugs include thalidomide, amphotalide, taltrimide, talmetoprim, and apremilast.

The high acidity of the imido N-H is the result of the pair of flanking electrophilic carbonyl groups.

Phthalimide can be prepared by heating phthalic anhydride with alcoholic ammonia giving 95–97% yield.