Phosphonate adducts of olefinic lubricants having enhanced properties

A lubricant composition comprising a mixture of phosphonate isomers having the structural formula ##STR15## where R and R.sub.1 in combination are C.sub.28 + hydrocarbyl having a branch ratio less than 0.19 R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each aliphatic or aromatic substituted or unsubstituted linear, cyclic or heterocyclic hydrocarbon groups;

• wherein substituent moieties comprise hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyl containing oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or halogen, the isomers being obtained by reacting olefinic C.sub.20 + polyalpha-olefin oligomer produced by the oligomerization of C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 olefin in the presence of a reduced Group VIB metal oxide catalyst the oligomer having a number average molecular weight of about 300 to 18,000, a viscosity index greater than 130 and a pour point below -15.degree. C., a molecular weight distribution between 1 and 5 and a branch ratio of less than 0.19 phosphite ester.

A lubricant composition having enhanced viscosity index comprising from 0.1 to 100 weight percent of a phosphite-functionalized derivative of polyalpha-olefin having a branch ratio of less than 0.19;

• said polyalpha-olefin having a number average molecular weight of about 300 to 18,000, viscosity index greater than 130 and pour point below 15.degree. C.

A method for decreasing wear and reducing friction in an internal combustion engine by lubricating said engine with a friction reducing amount of a product of reaction made by a process for the preparation of lubricant range hydrocarbons containing phosphonate functional groups comprising;

• reacting olefinic C.sub.30 + polyalpha-olefin oligomers produced by the oligomerization of a C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 olefin in the presence of a reduced Group VIB metal oxide catalyst and having a number average molecular weight from about 300 to 18,000, a molecular weight distribution from 1 and 5, a viscosity index greater than 130, a branch ratio of less than 0.19 and a pour point below -15.degree. C., with phosphite ester in a mixture with free radical generating catalyst at elevated temperature wherein phosphite ester adduct of said polyalpha-olefin is formed;
• separating said reaction mixture products and recovering said adduct.