Abstract The reactions of phthalonitrile with MeNH 2, Pr n NH 2, and Pr i NH 2 in the presence of catalytic amounts of LnI 3 (Ln= Nd or Dy) or LnI 3 (THF) 3 (Ln= Gd or Nd) afford 1, 3-bis (alkylimino) isoindolines (Alk= Me (1), Pr n (2), or Pr i (3), respectively). Under analogous conditions, 2-aminopyridine gives 1, 3-bis (2-pyridylimino) isoindoline (4). The X- ray diffraction study of compound 3 showed that, in the crystalline state, this compound ...