The reaction of bis(hydroxymethyl)phenylphosphine with 4,4"-diaminodiphenylmethane in DMF afforded 1,1",5,5"-bis[methylenedi(p-phenylene)]di(3,7-diphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane) (1) whose structure was established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Sulfurization and oxidation of macrocyclic tetraphosphine 1 gave rise to products 2 and 3, respectively, compound 3 being obtained as a stable hexahydrate. The reaction of bis(hydroxymethyl)phenylphosphine with bis(4-N-methylaminophenyl)methane in DMF followed by sulfurization yielded monocyclic bis{methylenedi[p-phenylene(N-methyl)aminomethyl]}di(P-phenyl)phosphine sulfide (4).
