Process of preparing molybdenum complexes, the complexes so-produced and lubricants containing same

A process for preparing a molybdenum-containing composition which comprises (1) reacting an acidic molybdenum compound and a basic nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of a succinimide, carboxylic acid amide, Mannich base, phosphonamide, thiophosphonamide, phosphoramide, dispersant viscosity index improvers, or mixtures thereof, in the presence of a polar promoter, to form a molybdenum complex wherein from 0.01 to 2 atoms of molybdenum are present per basic nitrogen atom, and the promoter is present in the ratio of 0.01 to 50 moles of said polar promoter per mole of molybdenum;

• and (2) reacting said complex with a sulfur containing compound, in an amount to provide 0.1 to 4.0 atoms of sulfur per atom of molybdenum, to form a sulfur- and molybdenum-containing composition.