Itaconic acid is a four-carbon diacid containing a methylene group at the 2-position and is readily available from biosources. Michael addition of phosphites to the methylene group provides a route to a variety of phosphorus compounds. Treatment with borane provides the corresponding diol. This compound may serve as a source for a number of compounds of interest as a polymer additive. Direct esterification or Atherton-Todd reaction provides phosphorus esters containing a high level of phosphorus. Polymerization using a variety of carboxylic acids should provide additives with little tendency to migrate from a matrix. These compounds should function as effective flame-retarding additives in a variety of polymers.

Nontoxic oligomeric flame retardants from the bioacid, itaconic acid

255th National Meeting (2018)

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