Flame retardant levulinic acid-based compounds

A flame retardant levulinic acid-based compound with a formula of:

• wherein M1 is a moiety selected from a group consisting of a phenyl-substituted flame retardant group and an R-functionalized flame retardant group;
• wherein M2 is a methylene bridge group;
• wherein M3 is a moiety selected from a group consisting of the carbonyl group, a methine group with an ether-linked phenyl-substituted flame retardant group, and a methine group with an ether-linked R-functionalized flame retardant group;
• wherein M4 is a methyl group when M3 is the methine group with the ether-linked phenyl-substituted flame retardant group or the methine group with the ether-linked R-functionalized flame retardant group;
• wherein M4 is a moiety selected from a group consisting of a methyl group, a methylene bridge to an ether-linked phenyl-substituted flame retardant group, and a methylene bridge to an ether-linked R-functionalized flame retardant group when M3 is the carbonyl group;
• and
• wherein when the selection of M4 is the methylene bridge to the ether-linked phenyl-substituted flame retardant group or the methylene bridge to the ether-linked R-functionalized flame retardant group and when the selection of M3 is the methine group with the ether-linked phenyl-substituted flame retardant group or the methine group with the ether-linked R-functionalized flame retardant group, the selection of the ether-linked phenyl-substituted flame retardant group or the ether-linked R-functionalized flame retardant group of M4 limits the selection of the ether-linked phenyl-substituted flame retardant group or the ether-linked R-functionalized flame retardant group of M3.