Oligomeric/polymeric multifunctional additives to improve the low-temperature properties of distillate fuels

A process of preparing a multifunctional low-temperature modifying distillate fuel polymeric and/or oligomeric ester product of reaction comprising polymerizing or oligomerizing a suitable combination of monomers selected from the group consisting of (1) one or more epoxides or diol equivalents (2) one or more aromatic anhydrides or diacid equivalents or mixtures of (1) and (2), and (3 optionally a suitable reactive material selected from the group consisting of isocyanates, diisocyanates, epoxy halides, carbamates, diepoxides, dianhydrides or polyols, in varying molar ratios under suitable conditions of time, temperature and pressure and wherein the molar ratios of reactants varies from equimolar to more than molar to less than molar, at temperatures varying from about 50.degree. to about 250.degree. C. and with pressures varying from atmospheric to slightly higher for times varying from about an hour to 48 hours or more thereby producing the desired ester additive product said product containing polymeric structures having ester functions having long-chain hydrocarbyl groups independently and regularly spaced along the polymer backbone and wherein hydrocarbyl is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, which may be cyclic or polycyclic and wherein said ester additive product of reaction is (4) optionally post reacted with a suitable reagent selected from suitable amines and alcohols or mixtures of such amines and alcohols.

A liquid hydrocarbyl fuel composition comprising a major amount of said fuel and a minor amount of a multifunctional low-temperature modifying distillate fuel polymeric and/or oligomeric ester additive product of reaction prepared by polymerizing or oligomerizing a suitable combination of monomers selected from a member of the group consisting of:

• (1) at least one C.sub.12 epoxide or at least one C.sub.12 diol that is capable of producing a related condensation product of reaction and;
• (2) at least one anhydride or a diacid capable of reacting with said epoxide or diol, or mixtures of (1) and (2);
• and (3) a suitable material reactive with (1) and (2) selected from the group consisting of isocyanates, disocyanates, epoxy halides, carbamates, diepoxides, dianhydrides or polyols, in varying molar ratios under suitable conditions of time, temperature and pressure which material functions as a chain modifier or cross-linking agent and wherein the molar ratios of reactants vary from equimolar to more than molar to less than molar, at temperatures varying from about 50.degree. to about 250.degree. C. and with pressures varying from ambient to autogenous for times varying from about an hour to about 48 hours thereby producing the desired ester additive product said product containing polymeric structures having ester functions and long-chain R, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 hydrocarbyl groups each having 1 to 300 carbon atoms independently and regularly spaced along the polymer/oligomer backbone and wherein said ester additive product of reaction is (4) post reacted with a suitable reagent selected from suitable amines and alcohols or a mixture of such amines and alcohols to provide additional functionality to said additive product.