The invention relates to a method for producing monofunctionalized dialkylphosphinic acids, esters, and salts, characterized in that a phosphinic acid source (I) is reacted with olefins (IV) in the presence of a catalyst A to obtain an alkylphosphonous acid, the salt or ester thereof, whereupon said alkylphosphonous acid, the salt or ester (II) thereof is reacted with compounds containing C═C, C═O, or C═N double bonds to obtain compounds of type (III), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 are identical or different from each other and independently represent, inter alia, H, C1-C18-alkyl, C6-C18-aryl, C6-C18-aralkyl, X represents, inter alia, H, C1-C18-alkyl, C6-C18-aryl, and/or Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Fe, Zr, Zn, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Cu, Ni, Li, Na, K, H, and wherein A represents OH, NH2, NHR, NR2, or O—CO—R8, and W represents a mineral acid, carboxylic acid, Lewis acid, or organic acid, wherein n is a whole or a fractional number from 0 to 4, and catalyst A represents transition metals and/or transition metal compounds and/or catalyst systems composed of a transition metal and/or a transition metal compound and at least one ligand. The use of said dialkylphosphonic acids, esters, and salts is also disclosed.