Used for the introduction of the phthalimidomethyl group by electrophilic substitution of aromatic compounds. For reviews on this amidomethylation reaction, see: Org. React., 14, 52 (1965); Synthesis, 49, (1970); 85, 181 (1984).
In the presence of diethylamine, protection of carboxylic acids as phthalimidomethyl esters has been reported. The group can be cleaved with hydrazine in MeOH, by a variety of basic or acidic conditions: Rec. Trav. Chim., 82, 941 (1963), or with Zn in AcOH: Chem. Ind. (London), 1204 (1970).
