Patent GB-780046-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the preparation of lubricating compounds of the formal type
IPC: C07C29/16
Filed: 1955-02-15
Abstract: Lubricating compositions comprise a mixture of formals prepared by subjecting a mixture of polymeric olefinic hydrocarbons containing a major proportion by volume of C12 to C18 olefines to the oxo synthesis, reacting the resulting oxo alcohols with formaldehyde and stripping the product to remove more volatile components therefrom (see Group IV (b)).  The products, which preferably have an ASTM pour-point below about - 15 DEG  F., a flash point above about 375 DEG  F. and a viscosity of 2.6-13 centistokes at 210 DEG  F. may be used per se as a lubricant if desired with conventional additives; they may be converted to solid or semi-solid lubricants by thickening agents such as metal soaps of fatty acids.  The formals may also be blended with mineral oils or synthetic lubricants such as formals, silicone polymers, ethers and ether-esters.  An example gives lubricating data for a mixture of formals, prepared as above and stripped at 437 DEG  F. under 9-10 mms. pressure, containing some polybutene as V.I. improver.  Specification 763,499 is referred to.ALSO:Formals suitable for use in lubricants (see Group III) are prepared by subjecting a mixture of polymeric olefinic hydrocarbons containing a major proportion by volume of C12 to C18 olefines to reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a cobalt carbonylation catalyst to form a mixture of oxo aldehydes, contacting the aldehydes with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, reacting the resulting mixture of oxo alcohols with a molar excess of formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, formalin or hexamethylene tetramine in the presence of an acidic catalyst and stripping the mixture of products so formed to remove more volatile components to recover a residue having lubricating characteristics.  The polymeric olefines may be prepared from C3 and C4 olefines suitably by treatment with a phosphoric acid-type catalyst, e.g. phosphoric acid or copper phosphate on silica-gel, copper pyrophosphate or phosphoric acid on kieselguhr, at 300-500 DEG F., and 250-5000 p.s.i. pressure; other catalysts are mentioned.  The oxo synthesis is preferably effected with a 1 : 1 volume ratio of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at about 200-400 DEG  F. and under about 1500-5000 p.s.i. pressure.  The product is then decobalted and hydrogenated at about 150-750 DEG  F. under 1500-5000 p.s.i. pressure using, for example, nickel, copper, nickel sulphide or tungsten sulphide as catalyst.  The formals are prepared using a temperature of 150-300 DEG  F. in the presence of such acidic catalysts as hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, benzene or p-toluene sulphonic acid, phosphoric acid, sodium acid sulphate or an ion exchange resin. A water entrainer is preferably present.  The preferred products, after stripping, have an A.S.T.M. pour-point below about - 15 DEG F., a flash point above about 375 DEG  F. and a viscosity at 210 DEG F. of 2.6-13 centistokes.  In addition to their use in lubricating compositions, the formals may be used for or as starting materials for plasticizers, solubilizers, heat transfer agents, insecticides, weed-killers and solvents.  In an example, a mixture of propylene and butylenes is polymerized as above, the product is fractionated into gasoline and a C12 cut; the latter is oxonated using cobalt acetate catalyst, the oxo aldehydes formed are hydrogenated and the product is refluxed with excess paraformaldehyde in the presence of sodium acid sulphate and hexane as water entrainer and the resulting formals are stripped at 437 DEG  F. under 9-10 mms. pressure.  Specification 763,499 is referred to.