GB706205A - Improvements in or relating to synthetic lubricants - Google Patents

Abstract

Esters of formula R COO R1 where R is a branched chain alkyl group having 7-16, preferably 8-13 and particularly 8 or 9 carbon atoms corresponding to that of an acid made by the oxo-process, e.g. by the reaction of a copolymer or polymer of a C3 and a C4 olefine with CO and water in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst or by the oxidation of corresponding oxo alcohols or aldehydes made using hydrogen in place of water and wherein R1 is a branched chain alkyl group of 7-16, preferably 8-13 and particularly 8 carbon atoms corresponding to that of an alcohol made by the oxo process, e.g. by reaction of a copolymer or polymer of a C3 and a C4 olefine with CO and excess H2 in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst. Oxo synthesis conditions specified are temperatures of about 300-400 DEG F., pressures of about 1,000-3,000 p.s.i. with cobalt carbonyl as catalyst. Polymer or copolymer olefines are made by conventional polymerization processes, e.g. by passing the olefine stream in liquid phase over acid catalysts such as phosphoric acid on kieselguhr or silica gel, copper phosphate, sulphuric acid and Friedel-Crafts catalysts. With phosphoric acid temperatures of 300-500 DEG F. are used and pressures of 250-5,000 p.s.i. Feed-stocks may comprise 15-60 mol. per cent. propylenes, 0.5-15 mol. per cent. butylenes, 0.1-10 mol. per cent. isobutylene or the dimer and trimer of isobutylene. The oxo-alcohol may be oxidized by treatment at 235 DEG F. with an equimolar quantity of sodium hydroxide or mixture of 50 per cent. sodium hydroxide and 50 per cent. potassium hydroxide. Oxo aldehydes are oxidized with air or nitric acid. The products are synthetic lubricants (see Group III). In Examples (1) a C8 oxo alcohol is esterified in toluene with a C8 oxo acid in the presence of p-toluene sulphonic acid, and in (2) a C8, and (3) a C13 oxo alcohol is similarly esterified with a C9 oxo acid.ALSO:Lubricating oil compositions comprise esters of formula RCOOR1 where R is a branched chain alkyl group of 7-16, preferably 8-13 and particularly 8 or 9 carbon atoms corresponding to that of an acid made by the oxo process, e.g. by the reaction of a copolymer or polymer of a C3 and a C4 olefine with CO and water in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst or by the oxidation of corresponding oxo alcohols or aldehydes made using hydrogen in place of water and where R1 is a branched chain alkyl group of 7-16, preferably 8-13 and particularly 8 carbon atoms corresponding to that of an alcohol made by the oxo process, e.g. by reaction of a polymer or copolymer of a C3 and a C4 olefine with CO and excess H2 in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst. Mixtures of esters may be used and other synthetic esters, e.g. acrylate and methacrylate copolymers and fumarate vinyl acetate copolymers may be present as thickeners. Example 4 shows tests on a lubricating oil made by blending an ester of a C8 oxo alcohol with a C9 oxo acid with an ester of a C9 oxo acid with a C13 oxo alcohol.