Anionic polymers composed of dicarboxylic acids and uses thereof

A method of forming a polymer comprising the steps of:

• providing a reaction mixture comprising at least two different reactants selected from the group consisting of first and second or a mixture of said second reactants, wherein said first reactant is of the general formula
• 11
• and said second reactant is of the general formula
• 12
• wherein each R7 is individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of H, OH, C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl oi aryl groups, C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl formate (C0), acetate (C1), propionate (C2), butyrate (C3), etc. up to C30 based ester groups, R′CO2 groups, OR′ groups and COOX groups, wherein R′ is selected from the group consisting of C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl groups and X is selected from the group consisting of H, the alkali metals, NH4 and the C1-C4 alkyl ammonium groups, R3 and R4 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl groups, R5, R6, R10 and R11 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of H, the alkali metals, NH4 and the C1-C4 alkyl ammonium groups, Y is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Mg, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mo, V and Ca, and R8 and R9 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of nothing (i.e., the groups are non-existent), CH2, C2H4, and C3H6, each of said moieties having or being modified to have a total of two COO groups therein;
• and
• polymerizing said reaction mixture to form a polymer having recurring polymeric subunits therein with carboxyl-containing groups.

A composition for enhancing plant growth comprising a dicarboxylic acid polymer having recurring polymeric subunits each made up of at least two different moieties individually and respectively taken from the group consisting of B and C moieties, or recurring C moieties, wherein moiety B is of the general formula

• 13
• and moiety C is of the general formula
• 14
• wherein each R7 is individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of H, OH, C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl groups, C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl formate (C0), acetate (C1), propionate (C2), butyrate (C3), etc. up to C10 based ester groups, R′CO2 groups, OR′ groups and COOX groups, wherein R′ is selected from the group consisting of C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl groups and X is selected from the group consisting of H, the alkali metals, NH4 and the C1-C4 alkyl ammonium groups, R3 and R4 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl groups, R5, R6, R10 and R11 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of H, the alkali metals, NH4 and the C1-C4 alkyl ammonium groups, Y is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Mg, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mo, V and Ca, and R8 and R9 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of nothing (i.e., the groups are non-existent), CH2, C2H4, and C3H6, each of said moieties having or being modified to have a total of two COO groups therein.