Gabriel phthalimide synthesis is used for the preparation of aliphatic primary amines. It involves nucleophilic substitution (SN2) of alkyl halides by the anion formed by the phthalimide.

But aryl halides do not undergo nucleophilic substitution with the anion formed by the phthalimide.

Hence, aromatic primary amines cannot be prepared by this process.
Amines are usually formed from amides, imides, halides, nitro compounds, etc. They exhibit hydrogen bonding which influences their physical properties. In alkyl amines, a combination of electron releasing, steric and H-bonding factors influence the stability of the substituted ammonium cations in protic polar solvents and thus affect the basic nature of amines. Alkyl amines are found to be stronger bases than ammonia. Amines being basic in nature, react with acids to form salts. Aryldiazonium salts, undergo replacement of the diazonium group with a variety of nucleophiles to produce aryl halides, cyanides, phenols and arenes.
