Catalytic Action of Water during Nucleophilic Substitution of Halogen in Hexachlorocyclotriphosphazatriene with Pyridine N-Oxide

The data on the kinetics of the reaction between hexachlorocyclotriphosphazatriene (the phosphazene) with pyridine N-oxide in mixed organic solvents in the presence of water are presented. The reaction of the phosphazene with pyridine N-oxide leads to the formation of the onium salt. It has been found that water catalyzes this reaction, the catalytic action resulting from the solvation of the polar transition state due to the formation of the phosphazene complex with hydrogen bonding, thus facilitating the rupture of the phosphorus bond with the leaving anion.