Mixtures of phosphorus-containing compounds, a process for their preparation, and their use as flame retardants

1 . A mixture of compounds of the formulae (I), (III), (IV), or (V), wherein the mixture includes at least two compounds, wherein the at least two compounds are of different formulae

wherein n is an average chain length of from 0 to 10,

A 1 and A 2 are identical or different and, independently of one another, are C(═O)NHR 5 , C(═O)R 5 , CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , CH(CH 3 ) 2 , CH 2 (CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 , C(CH 3 ) 3 , C 6 H 5 , CH 2 —C 6 H 5 ,

R 1 is a moiety of the formula (II),

in which k is an average chain length of from 0 to 5;

R 2 is CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 (CH 3 ) 2 , CH 2 (CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 , C(CH 3 ) 3 , C 6 H 5 , or CH 2 —C 6 H 5 ; OCH 3 , OCH 2 CH 3 , O(CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 , OCH(CH 3 ) 2 , O(CH 2 ) 3 CH 3 , OCH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 , OC(CH 3 ) 3 , O—C 6 H 5 , or O—CH 2 —C 6 H 5 ,

R 3 , R 4 , R 5 are identical or different and, independently of one another, are CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , CH(CH 3 ) 2 , CH 2 (CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 , C(CH 3 ) 3 , C 6 H 5 , or CH 2 —C 6 H 5 .

2 . The mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 , comprising

from 0.1 to 99.7% by weight of compounds of the formula (I)

from 0.1 to 99.7% by weight of compounds of the formula (II)

from 0.1 to 99.7% by weight of compounds of the formula (IV).

3 . The mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 , comprising

from 0.1 to 99.6% by weight of compounds of the formula (I)

from 0.1 to 99.6% by weight of compounds of the formula (II)

from 0.1 to 99.6% by weight of compounds of the formula (IV)

from 0.1 to 99.6% by weight of compounds of the formula (V).

4 . A process for the preparation of a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 , comprising the step of reacting a polymeric phosphoric or phosphonic ester of the formula (V) with at least one capping reagent in the presence of at least one basic catalyst, to form the mixture of compounds.

5 . The process as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the at least one capping reagent is selected from the group consisting of monoalkyl isocyanates, monoaryl isocyanates, carboxylic anhydrides, carbonyl chlorides, alkyl halides, aralkyl halides, and diazomethane.

6 . The process as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the at least one basic catalyst is selected from the group consisting of tertiary amines and organic zinc compounds.

7 . The process as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the at least one basic catalyst is pyridine, triethylamine, tetramethylbutanediamine (TMBDA), 1,4-diaza[2.2.2]bicyclooctane (DABCO), tetramethylguanidine, 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN), 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), dibutyltin dilaurate, stannous octoate, stannous ricinoleate or a mixture thereof.

8 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one basic catalyst is stannous octoate, pyridine or a mixture thereof.

9 . A flame retardant comnrising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

10 . A flame retardant for polyurethane plastics abased on polyether systems or on polyester systems, comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

11 . A flame retardant for the production of flame-retardant polyurethane plastics produced in the form of elastomers by casting, in the form of rigid or flexible foams by a continuous or batchwise production method, or in the form of foamed or solid molded items, or in the form of foil, comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

12 . A composition comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the composition is a flame retardant booster, flame retardant for clearcoat lacquers and intumescent coatings, flame retardant for wood and other cellulose-containing products, a reactive or non-reactive flame retardant for polymers.

13 . A binder for foundry materials molding sands comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

14 . A flame retardant, comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

from 0.1-10% by weight of compounds of the formula (V),

from 0-30% by weight of compounds of the formula (III) and (IV), and

from 70-99.9% by weight of compounds of the formula (I).

15 . A flame retardant, comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed is claim 1 , further comprising:

from 0.1-20% by weight of compounds of the formula (V),

from 50-99.8% by weight of compounds of the formula (III) and (IV), and

from 0.1-20% by weight of compounds of the formula (I).

16 . A flame retardant, comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claimed 1 , further comprising:

from 0.1-10% by weight of compounds of the formula (I),

from 25-60% by weight of compounds of the formulae (III) and (IV), and

from 30-74.9% by weight of compounds of the formula (V).

17 . A flame retardant, comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

from 0.1-5% by weight of compounds of the formula (I),

from 10-40% by weight of compounds of the formulae (III) and (IV), and

from 50-89.9% by weight of compounds of the formula (V).

18 . The flame retardant as claimed in claim 14 , wherein

R 2 is CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , CH(CH 3 ) 2 , C 6 H 5 , OCH 3 , OCH 2 CH 3 , O(CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 , or O—C 6 H 5 ,

R 3 , R 4 , R 5 are identical or different and, independently of one another, are CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , and/or or CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , and

A 1 , A 2 are identical or different and, independently of one another, are C(═O)NHR 5 , C(═O)R 5 , CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , (CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 , CH(CH 3 ) 2 , CH 2 (CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 , C(CH 3 ) 3 , C 6 H 5 , or CH 2 —C 6 H 5 ,

k is an average chain length of from 1 to 3, and

n is an average chain length of from 0 to 5.

19 . A process for producing flame retardancy to a polyester or to unblended or blended cellulose textiles, comprising the step of impregnating a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 to the polyester or the unblended or blended cellulose textile during production of the polyester or the unblended or blended cellulose textile.

20 . A crosslinking agent or accelerator in the hardening of epoxy resins, polyurethanes or unsaturated polyester resins comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

21 . A polymer stabilizer, light stabilizer, free-radical scavenger or heat stabilizer for cotton fabrics, polymer fibers or plastics comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

22 . A crop protection agent, a plant growth regulator, or a herbicide, pesticide, or fungicide comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

23 . A therapeutic agent or additive in therapeutic agents for humans and animals, an enzyme modulator or tissue growth stimulizer comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

24 . A sequestering agent in petroleum production, and in metal-treatment agents comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

25 . A petroleum additive, antioxidant, an agent for increasing octane number or as corrosion-prevention agent comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

26 . A laundry-detergent or cleaning-product composition comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

27 A polyelectrolyte for capacitors, batteries, and accumulators, or a free-radical scavenger in photosensitive layers comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

28 . An aldehyde scavenger comprising a mixture of compounds as claimed in claim 1 .

29 . A formaldehyde scavenger in adhesive compositions; in moldings for construction applications, the automobile industry, shipbuilding, the aerospace industry, and for electrical engineering.