A Facile Synthesis of 1H-Isoindole-1,3(2H)-Diones (3a-h) has been developed by the reaction of the corresponding anhydrides (1a-h) with potassium cyanate (4a) or sodium thiocyanate (4b). The reaction were carried out in neutral media under reflux or microwave irradiation without use of catalyst. Good to excellent yields of the products were obtained in high purity with very simple work-up.
