| abstract |
WHEREIN M is an alkali metal or ammonium, R1 and R2 are hydrogen, methyl or ethyl and R3 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or COOM are useful sequestrants and detergency builders. Lower alkyl esters and acids of such compounds are useful intermediates for their production. This is a division, of application Ser. No. 253,357, filed May 15, 1972 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. applications, Ser. Nos. 158,577 and 158,540, filed June 30, 1971 and June 30, 1971, and now abandoned. Compounds having the formula |