Phosphonate compounds

A phosphonate compound of the general formula:

• T-B
• wherein B is a phosphonate containing moiety having the formula:
• —X—N(W)(ZPO3M2)
• wherein X is selected from C2-C50 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain, optionally substituted by a C1-C12 linear, branched, cyclic, or aromatic group, (which chain and/or which group can be) optionally substituted by OH, COOH, F, OR′ and SR′ moieties, wherein R′ is a C1-C12 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain;
• and [A-O]x-A wherein A is a C2-C9 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain and x is an integer from 1 to 200;
• Z is a C1-C6 alkylene chain;
• M is selected from H and C1-C20 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chains;
• W is selected from H, ZPO3M2 and [V—N(K)]nK, wherein V is selected from:
• a C2-C50 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain, optionally substituted by C1-C12 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic groups, (which chains and/or groups are) optionally substituted by OH, COOH, F, OR′ or SR′ moieties wherein R′ is a C1-C12 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain;
• and from [A-O]x-A wherein A is a C2-C9 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain and x is an integer from 1 to 200;
• and
• K is ZPO3M2 or H and n is an integer from 0 to 200;
• and wherein T is a moiety selected from the group of:
• (i) MOOC—X—N(U)—;
• (ii) MOOC—C(X2)2—N(U)—;
• (iii) MOOC—X—S—;
• (IVi) [X(HO)n(N—U)n′]n′;
• (Vi) U—N(U)—[X—N(U)]n′″;
• (VIi) D-S—;
• (VIIi) CN—;
• (VIIIi) MOOC—X—O—;
• (IXi) MOOC—C(X2)2—O—;
• (Xi) NHR″—;
• and
• (XIi) (DCO)2—N—;
• wherein M, Z, W and X are as defined above;
• U is selected from linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic C1-C12 hydrocarbon chains, H and X—N(W) (ZPO3M2);
• X2 is independently selected from H, linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic C1-C20 hydrocarbon chains, optionally substituted by C1-C12 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon groups, optionally substituted by OH, COOH, R′0, R′S and/or NH2 moieties;
• n′, n″ and n′″ are independently selected from integers of from 1 to 100;
• D and R″ are independently selected from C1-Cso linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chains, optionally substituted by a C1-C12 linear, branched, cyclic, or aromatic group, (which chain and/or which group can be) optionally substituted by OH, COOH, F, OR′ and SR′ moieties, wherein R′ is a C1-C12 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain;
• and A′O-[A-O]x-A wherein A is a C2-C9 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain, x is an integer from 1 to 200 and A′ is selected from C1-C50 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain, optionally substituted by a C1-C12 linear, branched, cyclic, or aromatic group, (which chain and/or which group can be) optionally substituted by OH, COOH, F, OR′ and SR′ moieties, wherein R′ has the meaning given above;
• and D can also be represented by H;
• with the proviso that the following compounds are excluded:
• ethylenediamine-N-phosphonomethyl-N′-monosuccinic acid, 1,6-hexamethylenediamine-N-phosphonomethyl-N′-monosuccinic acid, 2-hydroxypropylene-1,3-diamino-N-phosphonomethyl-N′-monosuccinic acid, 1,2-propylenediamine-N-phosphonomethyl-N′-monosuccinic acid, 1,3-propylenediamine-N-phosphonomethyl-N′monosuccinic acid, and ethylene-bis(oxyethylenenitrilo)-N-phosphonomethyl-N′-monosuccinic acid.