In the title compound, C(26)H(20)N(2)O(4), the central isoindole core is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.043 Å). The phenyl rings lie to either side of the plane [dihedral angles = 88.64 (5) and 67.74 (6)°] and the dihedral angle between the phenyl rings is 63.39 (7)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O inter-actions; notably, one carbonyl O atom accepts three such bonds.