The elusive cyclotriphosphazene molecule and its Dewar benzene-type valence isomer (P₃N₃).

ABSTRACT: Although the chemistry of phosphorus and nitrogen has fascinated chemists for more than 350 years, the Hückel aromatic cyclotriphosphazene (P₃N₃, 2) molecule-a key molecular building block in phosphorus chemistry-has remained elusive. Here, we report a facile, versatile pathway producing cyclotriphosphazene and its Dewar benzene-type isomer (P₃N₃, 5) in ammonia-phosphine ices at 5 K exposed to ionizing radiation. Both isomers were detected in the gas phase upon sublimation via photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry and discriminated via isomer-selective photochemistry. Our findings provide a fundamental framework to explore the preparation of inorganic, isovalent species of benzene (C₆H₆) b

SUBMITTER: Zhu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7439403 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature