Imide

In organic chemistry, an imide is a functional group consisting of two acyl groups bound to nitrogen. These compounds are structurally related to acid anhydrides, although imides are less reactive. In terms of commercial applications, imides are best known as components of high-strength polymers.

Nomenclature

Most imides are cyclic compounds derived from dicarboxylic acids and their names reflect the parent acid. Examples are succinimide derived from succinic acid and phthalimide derived from phthalic acid. For imides derived from amines (vs. ammonia), the N-substituent is indicated by a prefix, e.g., N-ethylsuccinimide is derived from succinic acid and ethylamine. Isoimides are isomaric with normal imides, they have the formula RC(O)OC(NR')R. They are often intermediates that convert to the more symmetrical imides. Organic compounds called carbodiimides have the formula RN=C=NR, they are unrelated to imides.

Imides in coordination chemistry

The ligand in coordination chemistry known as imide has the formula NR. An imide is an intermediate in nitrogen fixation by synthetic catalysts.