Formation and selection of the macrocycle [{(tBuN)P(μ-NtBu)}2(μ-Se)2{P(μ-NtBu)}2]3

Abstract

Main group inorganic macrocycles, based on p-block element backbones other than carbon, are a challenging synthetic target that has been largely overlooked. In this study, we show that a simple strategy based on the combination of electrophilic and nucleophilic phosphazane building blocks can be extended to readily accessible [E(^tBuN)P(μ-N^tBu)]₂²⁻ nucleophilic components, as exemplified by the Se-bridge P^III/P^V phosphazane macrocycle [{(^tBuN)P^V(μ-N^tBu)}₂(μ-Se)₂{P^III(μ-N^tBu)}₂]₃.