US2843547A

US2843547A - Organo-metallic compound and lubricating compositions containing the same

Info

Publication number: US2843547A
Application number: US482888A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thaddeus W Culmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-01-19
Filing date: 1955-01-19
Publication date: 1958-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1975-07-15

Description

United States Patent ORGANO-METALLIC COMPOUND AND LUBRI- gATING COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING THE Thaddeus W. Culmer, Robinson, 11]., assignor to Hall Stewart, Danville, Ill.

No Drawing. Application January 19, 1955 Serial No. 482,888

11 Claims. (Cl. 252--49.7)

This invention relates to a lubricating composition including a hydrocarbon lubricant and an organomolybdenum compound, and to the organo-molybdenum compound.

The production of improved lubricants and particularly of hydrocarbon lubricants having improved characteristics has been the subject of extensive investigation and research for a considerable period of time. The objects are to impart desired characteristics to the hydrocarbons so that the resulting lubricating compositions will be superior to the hydrocarbons themselves.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a lubricating composition comprising a major proportion of a hydrocarbon lubricant and a minor proportion of an organo-metallic compound having substantially the formula MoR wherein R is a member of the class consisting of phenyl groups, naphthyl groups, and alkyl substituted phenyl and naphthyl groups wherein each alkyl group has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is a small whole number of 2-4, inclusive.

Another feature of the invention is to provide as a new compound an organo-metallic compound having substantially the formula MoR wherein R is a member of the class consisting of phenyl groups, naphthyl groups, and alkyl substituted phenyl and naphthyl groups wherein each alkyl group has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is a small whole number of 2-4, inclusive.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention in connection with certain embodiments thereof.

The new organo-molybdenum compound of this invention wherein the molybdenum atom is joined to from 2-4 aryl groups which may be either phenyl, naphthyl or alkyl substituted phenyl and naphthyl groups have been found to be oil soluble when used with a hydrocarbon lubricant either in gear oils or motor oils to reduce Wear in the lubricated metal parts and to produce greatly improved film strength in the oil. The compound is preferably used in an amount between about 0.02 to 0.10% by weight of the lubricant. In the preferred compounds, the molybdenum is connected to three of the aryl groups and these groups are preferably either phenyl, xylyl or naphthyl.

As the new compounds of this invention are oil soluble, they need only to be added in the required amount to the hydrocarbon lubricant and thoroughly mixed to produce the improved lubricating compositions of this invention. The organo-molybdenum compounds of this invention permit the molybdenum to be dispersed through the oil in an oil soluble form and produce lasting effects as the molybdenum compound i quite stable.

In producing the organo-molybdenum compounds of this invention, a Grignard type reaction is employed. Here an aryl halide is reacted with magnesium to produce the aryl magnesium halide complex. This complex is then reacted with molybdenum halide containing from 2-4 halide atoms to produce the aryl molybdenum com- "ice pound containing from 2-4 aryl groups and magnesium halide.

In one method of producing triphenyl molybdenum having substantially the formula: 5

8.4 parts by weight of magnesium chips and 52 parts by weight of monobromo benzene were refluxed at a temperature at which the monobromo benzene boiled briskly. The boiling was continued until the reaction had progresscd to the point Where the magnesium had changed to a yellowish jelly-like mass. This was phenyl magnesium bromide of the formula: C H MgBr. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature and then 50.

parts by weight of diethyl ether were added. This produced an exothermic reaction so that the mixture was continued under reflux to condense the vaporized ether back into the mixture. When the reaction had subsided, 22 parts by weight of molybdenum trichloride were slowly added thereby producing a vigorous reaction. in this reaction the molybdenum replaced the magnesium. An

excess of water was then added to break up the complex molybdenum organo bromide with the formation of the molybdenum triphenyl derivative and magnesium bromo chloride. The solid precipitate of molybdenum triphenyl was then separated, washed and dried.

The above method is typical of methods that can be used to produce the organo-molybdenum compound of this invention. The preferred method of preparation of these compounds can be summarized as follows:

where R=phenyl, xylyl, naphthyl, or low mol wt. (1-4 carbon atoms) alkyl substituents thereof.

X=halide n=2 to 4 Having described my invention as related to the embodiments set out herein, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A lubricating composition comprising a hydrocarbon oil and from 0.02-0.10% by weight of the oil of an organo-metallic compound having substantially the formula MoR wherein R is a member of the class consisting of phenyl groups, naphthyl groups, and alkyl substituted phenyl and naphthyl groups wherein each alkyl group has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is a small whole number of 2-4, inclusive.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein. R is phenyl.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein R is xylyl.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein R is naphthyl. 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein n is 3. 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said compound is triphenyl molybdenum. 7. As a new compound, an organo-metallic compound having substantially the formula MoR wherein R is a member of the class consisting of phenyl groups, naphthyl 3 '4 groups, and alkyl substituted phenyl and naphthyl groups References Cited in the file of this patent wherein each 'alkyl group'has from lto 4- carbon atoms, UNITED STATES PATENTS and n is a small whole number of 2-4, inclusive.

.8. The com ound of claim 7 wherein R. is hen l. 2161184 McKone June 1939 9. 'Thecorngound of 'claim 7 wherein R is 'x ylyl. 5 2181913 Rose 1939 10. The compound of claim 7 wherein R is naphthyl. OTHER REFERENCES AS a compound triphenyl molybdenum'hav' .Gilman: Organic Chemistry, Wiley and-Sons, N. Y., mg substantlauy the formula Zndedition, volume 1, page 564, April 1953.

Claims

1. A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION COMPRISING A HYDROCARBON OIL AND FROM 0.02-0.10% BY WEIGHT OF THE OIL OF AN ORGANO-METALLIC COMPOUND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORMULA MORN WHEREIN R IS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF PHENYL GROUPS, NAPHTHYL GROUPS, AND ALKYL SUBSTITUTED PHENYL AND NAPHTHYL GROUPS WHEREIN EACH ALKYL GROUP HAS FROM 1 TO 4 CARBON ATOMS, AND N IS A SMALL WHOLE NUMBER OF 2-4, INCLUSIVE.

7. AS A NEW COMPOUND, AN ORGANO-METALLIC COMPOUND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORMULA MORN WHEREIN R IS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF PHENYL GROUPS, NAPTHYL GROUPS, AND ALKYL SUBSTITUTED PHENYL AND NAPHTHYL GROUPS WHEREIN EACH ALKYL GROUP HAS FROM 1 TO 4 CARBON ATOMS, AND N IS A SMALL WHOLE NUMBER OF 2-4, INCLUSIVE.