The kinetics of the substitution reaction of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene,
(NPCL2)(3), with phenol to synthesize the partially substituted (phenoxy)c
hlorocyclotriphosphazene was investigated by using triphase catalysis in an
organic phase/alkaline solution. The relative reaction-rate constants and
the corresponding energies, enthalpies, and entropies of activation of the
sequential substitution were also estimated. The diffusional limitations in
volve both ion diffusion in the aqueous phase and organic reactant diffusio
n in the organic phase within the catalyst pellet. The particle diffusion a
nd intrinsic reactivity limit the substitution reaction in the organic phas
e. The diffusion of the aqueous phase in the ion-exchange step is the main
rate-limiting factor.