Abstract: The invention provides metal-phosphorus-nitrogen polymer compounds and methods for their preparation at low temperatures using readily available starting materials. One group of compounds, metal-phosphazene polymers, are comprised of repeating units of [PN].sub.3 rings linked to form polymers through P--X--M--X--P bonds. The linking atoms X are either NH.sub.2 or O, and M is a metal cation. Another group of the compounds have the generic formula M.sub.a (P.sub.2 O.sub.5).sub.b (NH.sub.3).sub.c O.sub.d.eH.sub.2 O. If the metal-phosphorus-nitrogen polymers are heated to a sufficiently high temperature to reduce the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio, additional novel solid metal phosphorus compounds of the invention are formed, many of which have a foamed, porous structure. The properties of the compounds of the invention can be varied by choice of metal and reaction conditions to create materials having useful conductive, magnetic, optical, catalytic, or ion-exchange properties.

Abstract: The invention provides metal-phosphorus-nitrogen polymer compounds and methods for their preparation at low temperatures using readily available starting materials. One group of compounds, metal-phosphazene polymers, are comprised of repeating units of [PN].sub.3 rings linked to form polymers through P--X--M--X--P bonds. The linking atoms X are either NH.sub.2 or O, and M is a metal cation. Another group of the compounds have the generic formula M.sub.a (P.sub.2 O.sub.5).sub.b (NH.sub.3).sub.c O.sub.d.eH.sub.2 O. If the metal-phosphorus-nitrogen polymers are heated to a sufficiently high temperature to reduce the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio, additional novel solid metal phosphorus compounds of the invention are formed, many of which have a foamed, porous structure. The properties of the compounds of the invention can be varied by choice of metal and reaction conditions to create materials having useful conductive, magnetic, optical, catalytic, or ion-exchange properties.