The phosphorus-containing compound of the present invention is represented by the following formula (I), (II) or (III):
1
wherein Z
1
, Z
2
and Z
3
each represents a cycloalkane, a cycloalkene, a polycyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon or an aromatic hydrocarbon rings which may have a substituent; R represents a halogen atom, a hydroxyl, a carboxyl, a halocarboxyl (haloformyl), an alkyl, an alkoxy, an alkenyl or an aryl groups; A represents a polyvalent group corresponding to an alkane; Y
1
, Y
2
and Y
3
each represents —O—, —S— or —NR
1
—, wherein R
1
represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; k is an integer of to 6; m is an integer of 0 to 2; n is an integer of not less than 1; q is an integer of 0 to 5; r is 0 or 1; and S is an integer of 1 to 4.
The phosphorus-containing compound is excellent in heat resistance and is useful as flame retardants, plasticizers, or stabilizers.