Patent ID: 8084518

Claim:
An ethylenebis(hydroxyalkylphosphinic acid) or salt thereof having the formula (I): A-P(O)(OX)—CR 1 R 2 —CR 3 R 4 P(O)(OX)-A (I) wherein: A is CR 5 R 6 —OH; each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 20 -alkyl, C 6 -C 20 -aryl, and C 6 -C 20 -aralkyl, so long as at least one of R 1 and R 2 and at least one of R 3 and R 4 is H; and X is selected from the group consisting of H, an alkali metal, an element of main or transition group 2, an element of main or transition group 3, an element of main or transition group 4, an element of main or transition group 5, an element of transition group 6, an element of transition group 7, an element of transition group 8, and a nitrogen base.