Macrobicyclic triphosphazides and tri-λ-phosphazenes derived from PhC(CH2PPh2)3. Two propeller-shaped diastereoisomers in the crystals

New macrobicyclic cage-compounds composed of two tripodal, propeller-shaped fragments linked by phosphazide and phosphazene units have been synthesized by reaction of PhC(CH₂PPh₂)₃ with tris(m-azidobenzyl)amines. Two diastereoisomers of one of these cages have been characterized in the solid state by X-ray crystallography, one presenting two propellers with the same sense of twist P^∗,P^∗ whereas in the second one the helical sense of both propellers is the opposite, P^∗,M^∗. In contrast, only one species is apparent in CDCl₃ solution.