Abstract Methylphosphinediacetic acid, a novel carboxyphosphine ligand, was obtained as the hydrochloride after reacting methyldichlorophosphine with ethyl bromozinc acetate, subjecting the ester formed to basic hydrolysis, and treating the disodium salt with excess hydrochloric acid. The substance was characterized by its analytical and spectral data. The protonation of the anion demonstrated that the methyl group, with low electronic and steric ...