Steric structure of quaternary ammonium salts of the 3-[alkyl(aryl)amino]-1-[alkyl(aryl)iminio]-1H-isoindole series was studied by 1 H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. The examined salts are characterized by E,E configuration of substituents with respect to the exocyclic C-N bonds, and the presence of ortho-and meta-substituents in the benzene rings on the nitrogen atoms gives rise to atropisomers. Sterically hindered N- (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) derivative was found to exist as Z,Z isomer which undergoes irreversible thermal isomerization into the more stable E,E isomer through intermediate Z,E structure. The reactions of 1,1,3-trichloro-1H-isoindole with secondary aromatic amines having an electron-withdrawing substituent in the ortho position in the presence of organic bases (triethylamine, N,N-dimethylbenzylamine) are accompanied by decomposition of the latter and formation of unsymmetrically substituted salts of the 3-[alkyl(aryl)amino]-1-(dialkyliminio)-1H-isoindole series, which contain both arylamine residue and dialkylamino group and are also characterized by atropisomerism.Compounds of the aminoimino-1H-isoindole series can exist as different tautomers and geometric isomers [1]. The latter appear due to the presence of double exocyclic C=N bonds. For instance, 1,3-bis(arylimino)-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindoles generally exist as mixtures of tautomers, as well as of Z,E isomers [2]. Their NMR spectra contain two sets of signals corresponding to Z,E and Z,Z isomers. By contrast, quaternary isoindolium salts of the 3-amino-1-iminio-1H-isoindole series are stable as E,E isomers of 1,3-bis-[alkyl(aryl)amino] derivatives and Z,Z isomers of the salts derived from cyclic fatty-aromatic amines [3].3-Amino-1-iminio-1H-isoindole salts cannot be synthesized by direct alkylation of the corresponding bases, 1,3-bis(arylimino)-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindoles; however, such salts are readily available via nucleophilic replacement of chlorine in 1,1,3-trichloro-1H-isoindole (I) by secondary amine residues in the presence of excess amine [3]. With a view to examine the effect of steric factors on the state of equilibrium between stereoisomers we synthesized 1,3-bis(arylamino)isoindolium salts having ortho substituents in the aromatic ring. The reaction readily occurred in anhydrous aprotic solvent, such as chloroform, aceto-