| abstract |
A process for preparing N-hydroxyalkylaminomethylphosphonic acid or salts thereof which comprises contacting an alkanolamine, formaldehyde and a dialkyl phosphite in the presence of an alcohol under suitable reaction conditions to produce a reaction mixture, and hydrolyzing the reaction mixture under acidic or basic conditions. In one embodiment, the N-hydroxyalkylaminomethylphosphonic acid or salts thereof is catalytically oxidized to produce an N-phosphonomethylaminocarboxylic acid or salts thereof. |