Triphosphonitrilic Chloride, P₃N₃Cl₆

Triphosphonitrilic Chloride, P₃N₃Cl₆, forms large rhombic crystals of density 1-98. Its properties are typical of those found in the series. It is easily soluble in the usual organic solvents, also in glacial acetic acid and sulphuric acid, undergoing reaction with the latter. It also reacts with many organic compounds containing hydroxyl groups—alcohols, phenols, etc. Aniline when added to the benzene solution gave a dianilide, N≡P(NH.C₆H₅)₂. Ammonia when passed into a solution of P₃N₃Cl₆ in carbon tetrachloride gave needles of a chloroamide, possibly P₃N₃Cl₄(NH₂)₂, which was insoluble in organic solvents. Liquid ammonia gave a white solid hexamide, P₃N₃(NH₂)₆. Hydrolysis proceeds when an ether solution is shaken with water, with production first of P₃N₃Cl₄(OH)₂, then of trimetaphosphimic acid, [NH(POOH)]₃ and HCl, and finally ammonium phosphate.