N -Hydroxyphthalimide
N-Hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) is an organic compound with the molecular formula C₈H₅NO₃ and the CAS number 524-38-9, consisting of a phthalimide core with a hydroxy group attached to the nitrogen atom.[1] It appears as a white to off-white crystalline solid, with a melting point of 233 °C (decomposition) and limited solubility in water (slightly soluble), with greater solubility in certain organic solvents such as acetonitrile and ethyl acetate.[2] The compound's estimated boiling point is approximately 370 °C at 760 mmHg, and it has a density of approximately 1.64 g/cm³.[3] Structurally, NHPI features a five-membered imide ring fused to a benzene ring, where the nitrogen bears the hydroxyl functionality, enabling it to act as a precursor to the stable phthalimido-N-oxy (PINO) radical under oxidative conditions.[4] This radical formation is central to its role as an efficient organocatalyst, particularly in promoting hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanisms for aerobic oxidations of various substrates, including hydrocarbons, alcohols, amines, and sulfides, often using molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant.[4] NHPI's catalytic activity can be enhanced by combination with transition metals, broadening its applicability in selective oxidation processes.[4] Beyond catalysis, NHPI serves as a versatile reagent in organic synthesis, such as in the oxidation of amines to nitro compounds or imines, and in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, including antibacterials effective against macrolide-resistant bacteria.[5] Recent advancements focus on heterogenizing NHPI onto solid supports like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or porous polymers to improve recyclability and enable continuous-flow reactions, addressing scalability challenges in homogeneous systems, as well as electrochemical applications for sustainable synthesis.[4][6] Its low toxicity and metal-free operation in many protocols make it valuable for green chemistry applications.[1]Chemical identity
Structure and nomenclature
N-Hydroxyphthalimide has the molecular formula C₈H₅NO₃ and a molar mass of 163.13 g/mol. The preferred IUPAC name is 2-hydroxy-1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione; other synonyms include N-hydroxyphthalimide and N-hydroxy-1,3-isoindolinedione.[7][8] It features a bicyclic phthalimide core consisting of a benzene ring fused to a five-membered 1,3-dione pyrrole ring, with a hydroxy group (-OH) attached to the bridging nitrogen atom. The molecular structure can be represented as:This structure was confirmed by X-ray crystallography, revealing a virtually planar molecule with a maximum deviation from planarity of 0.03 Å.O // \\ C C / \\ | O | \ / C--N-OH / \\ C C \ / \\ // O (with [benzene](/page/Benzene) ring fused between the two C atoms adjacent to the carbonyls)O // \\ C C / \\ | O | \ / C--N-OH / \\ C C \ / \\ // O (with [benzene](/page/Benzene) ring fused between the two C atoms adjacent to the carbonyls)