A simple, rapid and efficient protocol for the synthesis of N-(3-aryl-1,8 napthyridin-2-yl)phthalimides 3 has been achieved by the reaction of 2-amino-3-aryl-1,8-naphthyridines 1 with phthalic anhydride 2 in the presence of catalytic amount of DMF under microwave irradiation.