Synthesis and Hydrolytic Studies on the Air-Stable [(4-CN-PhO)(E)P(μ‑N^<i>t</i>Bu)]₂ (E = O, S, and Se) Cyclodiphosphazanes

Reaction of 4-CN-PhOH with [ClP­(μ-NtBu)]2 (1) (2:1 ratio) in the presence of Et3N produced the functionalized cyclodiphosph­(III/III)­azane [(4-CN-PhO)­P­(μ-NtBu)]2 (2). Oxidation of 2 produced cyclodiphosph­(V/V)­azanes [(4-CN-PhO)­(E)­P­(μ-NtBu)]2 [E = O (3), S (4), and Se (5)]. This is the first example of a series of cyclodiphosph­(V/V)­azane derivatives obtained from a single cyclophosph­(III/III)­azane precursor where all the accessible chalcogen oxidized products are air-stable over prolonged periods of time.