Disclosed herein is a method for producing a 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine. The method comprises forming a reaction mixture comprising at least one substituted or unsubstituted phenolphthalein compound, at least one substituted or unsubstituted primary hydrocarbyl amine, and an acid catalyst; and heating the reaction mixture to form 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine. An adduct of the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine is formed either by using an excess of the primary hydrocarbyl amine in the first heating step, or by isolating crude 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine after the heating step and then reacting with a further amount of the primary hydrocarbyl amine. The 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine has a formula: ##STR00001## where R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen and a hydrocarbyl group, and R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, and a halogen.