A method for producing an aromatic bisimide includes reacting a dialkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound with an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide to form a product mixture including the aromatic bisimide. The N-alkyl nitrophthalimide includes 4-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, 3-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide in an amount of 1-10000 ppm. The aromatic bisimide can be obtained in a yield of greater than 75%, or 90-99.8%. A method for the manufacture of a polyetherimide, a polyetherimide, and an article including the polyetherimide are also disclosed. A mixed acid nitration process for the preparation of an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide is also described.