Unexpected nitrogen–oxygen exchange reactions in cyclic metallaphosphazenes; synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of [Mo(OPPh2NHPPh2O)O2Cl2], [Mo(OPPh2NPPh2O)2(O)Cl], and [Mo(OPPh2NPPh2O)2O2]

Abstract

The reactions of [[graphic omitted])Cl₃] with Ph₃SiOH and Bu^tOH lead not to the expected substitution products but to exchange and rearrangement reactions in which the nitrogen atoms which co-ordinate molybdenum are replaced by oxygen. The crystal structures of [[graphic omitted])O₂Cl₂], [[graphic omitted])₂(O)Cl], and [graphic omitted])₂O₂] are reported, together with the synthesis of these unexpected products by more direct routes.