Patent ID: 8372992

Claim:
A compound of formula (1): (ascorbate) 2 Sr:(M +a ) x (ascorbate) y wherein ascorbate refers to the ascorbate anion: wherein y is a positive integer, wherein x is a positive integer, wherein a is a positive integer reflecting the valence of M; wherein (y)=((x) multiplied by (+a)) such that a total positive charge ((x) multiplied by (+a)) equals a total negative charge (y) provided that the ascorbate anion has a negative valence of (−1); wherein M is an alkali metal, an alkali earth metal or Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe or a combination thereof; and wherein the ratio of the moles of Sr to the moles of M is selected from 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.25, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.75, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, and 4.