N-(Imidazol-1-ylmethyl)phthalimide

The title compound [systematic name: 2-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)isoindole-1,3-dione], C12H9N3O2, was prepared by reaction of N-(bromomethyl)phthalimide and imidazole in chloroform solution. The crystal structure is stabilized by weak intermolecular C—H⋯π interactions and intermolecular π–π interactions with centroid–centroid distances in the range 3.6469 (8)–3.8831 (9) Å.