Regulator molecule

Mono-substituted phosphinic acid of formula (I)

• wherein X is H+, an alkali metal ion, alkaline earth metal ion, divalent or trivalent metal ion, ammonium ion, organic ammonium group or an organic radical with a molecular weight of ≦200 g/mol;
• wherein Y represents one of the formulas (II) to (VI)
• where (P) and (W) correspond to P and W, respectively, in formula (I),
• wherein W represents one of the formulas (VII) to (X);
• where (Y) and (R1) correspond to Y and R1, respectively, in formula (I),
• wherein R1 is H, an alkyl group, an alkylaryl group, or the formula (XI)
• wherein the substituent A independently represents a C2- to C4-alkylene group, the subscript q has a value of 2 to 300, the subscript n represents a value of 2 to 4, and the subscript r represents a value of 0 to 1,
• wherein R2, R3 and R4 independently represent H, CH3, COOH or CH2—COOH,
• R5 is —CH2—CH2— or —CH2—CH(CH3) and
• R6 is O or N.