Hydroxymethylphenoxyphosphazenes and a process for producing same

A process for the production of a mixture of hydroxymethylphenoxycyclotriphosphazenes and hydroxymethylphenoxycyclotetraphosphazenes of the formulas, respectively,:

• ##STR18## wherein R.sub.1 is an isopropoxy radical having the formula ##STR19## or an aryloxy radical having the formula ##STR20## wherein each Z is independently selected for each isopropoxy radical from F and H, wherein each X is independently selected for each aryloxy radical from Cl, Br, F and H, and wherein n is a whole integer which is .gtoreq.1 and .ltoreq.5 when said hydroxymethylphenoxycyclotriphosphazene has an m- or p-hydroxymethylphenoxy substituent and which is .gtoreq.3 and .ltoreq.5 when said hydroxymethylphenoxycyclotriphosphazene has an o-hydroxymethylphenoxy substituent, and n' is a whole integer which is .gtoreq.1 and .ltoreq.7 when said hydroxymethylphenoxycyclotetraphosphazene has an m- or p- hydroxymethylphenoxy substituent and which is .gtoreq.4 and .ltoreq.7 when said hydroxymethylphenoxycyclotetraphosphazene has an o-hydroxymethylphenoxy substituent, said process comprising, reacting a mixture of R.sub.1 -chlorocyclotriphosphazene having n R.sub.1 substituents and 6-n chloride constituents and R.sub.1 -chlorocyclotetraphosphazene having n' R.sub.1 substituents and 8-n' chloride constituents, with a salt of hydroxymethylphenoxide for a time period sufficient to yield said hydroxymethylphenoxycyclotriphosphazene and said hydroxymethylphenoxycyclotetraphosphazene, said reaction occurring in an inert organic solvent medium, at a temperature within the range of from about 20.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C., and with a molar ratio of said R.sub.1 -chlorocyclotriphosphazene and said R.sub.1 -chlorocyclotetraphosphazene to the hydroxymethylphenoxide anion component of said salt of 1:b wherein b>13-n'-n.