Aspects described herein generally relate to methods of making a phosphono paraffin comprising forming a reaction mixture by mixing a haloparaffin, a phosphite, and sodium iodide. Methods comprise heating the reaction mixture to form the phosphono paraffin. Aspects described herein further relate to a phosphono paraffin represented by formula (I): wherein each instance of R1 is independently —H or wherein each instance of R2 and R3 is independently linear or branched C1-20 alkyl, C1-20 cycloalkyl, or aryl; the number of instances where R1 is of formula (I) is between about 2 and about 8; and n is an integer between 4 and 22.