Patent ID: 8658804

Claim:
A process for producing N-substituted cyclic imide compounds comprising the steps of: a. contacting a cyclic carboxylic acid anhydride with a hydroxylamine or a salt thereof in an aqueous solution to form a first mixture wherein the pH of the first mixture is from about 2 to about 6 and wherein the molar ratio of hydroxylamine to carboxylic acid anhydride in the first mixture is from about 0.8 to about 2.0 prior to reaction; b. allowing the mixture to undergo reaction such that a N-substituted cyclic imide compound is formed; c. adding an acid to the first mixture to lower the pH of the first mixture to form a second mixture; and d. removing at least a portion of the N-substituted cyclic imide compound from the second mixture; wherein at least a portion of the N-substituted cyclic imide compound is removed from the first mixture prior to addition of the acid.