Fuel compositions containing organic molybdenum complexes

A stabilized motor fuel composition comprising a major portion of a petroleum fuel selected from gasoline and diesel fuel and a minor amount effective to inhibit oxidative gum formation, of a heterocyclic molybdenum complex prepared by reacting (a) diol, diamino, or amino-alcohol compound of formula (II) or (III) ##STR8## wherein X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 represent O or N;

• n or m=1 when X.sup.1 or X.sup.2 is O and n or m=2 when X.sup.1 or X.sup.2 is N;
• y=1;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from alkyl having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, alkyl having pendant oxygen a fatty acid residue having a total of 8 to 22 carbon atoms and (b) a molybdenum source sufficient to yield about 2.0 to 20.0 percent of molybdenum based on the weight of the complex in the presence of a transfer agent of formula IV ##STR9## wherein R.sup.6 is an alkyl group or fatty acid residue having a total of 8 to 22 carbon atoms and X.sup.3 is a hydroxy or amino group and wherein the molybdenum complex has the structural formula (V) or (VI) ##STR10## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from alkyl, alkyl with a pendant oxygen substituent group, alkyl having internal oxygen or fatty acid or oil radical having a total of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, X and X.sup.3 is O or HN group.

A stabilized motor fuel composition comprising a major portion of a petroleum fuel selected from gasoline and diesel fuel and a minor amount effective to inhibit oxidative gum formation, of a heterocyclic molybdenum complex prepared by reacting (a) a fatty oil, (b) diethanolamine and (c) a molybdenum source sufficient to yield about 0.5 to 10.0 percent of molybdenum based on the weight of the complex and having a major component of the formula (VII) and (VIII) ##STR11## wherein R.sup.3 represents a fatty acid residue having a total of 22 carbon atoms.

A stabilized motor fuel composition comprising a major portion of a petroleum fuel selected from gasoline and diesel fuel and a minor amount effective to inhibit oxidative gum formation, of a heterocyclic molybdenum complex prepared by reacting (a) a fatty derivative of 2-(2-aminoethyl)aminoethanol and (b) a molybdenum source sufficient to yield about 2.0 to 20.0 percent of molybdenum based on the weight of the complex and having a major component of the formula (IX) and (X) ##STR12## wherein R.sup.3 represents a fatty acid residue having a total of 8 to 22 carbon atoms.

A method of stabilizing petroleum motor fuel comprising adding to said fuel composition 7 ppm to 8000 ppm of a heterocyclic molybdenum complex prepared by reacting (a) diol, diamino or amino-alcohol compound and a molybdenum source sufficient to yield about 2.0 to 20.0 percent by weight of molybdenum based on the weight of the complex and having a major component of the formula (I) and (V). ##STR13## wherein X, X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and X.sup.3 are independently selected from O and HN groups, y=1 and R and R.sup.1 are independently selected from alkyl, alkyl with pendant oxygen substituent group, alkyl having internal oxygen substituent, or fatty acid residue having a total of 8 to 22 carbon atoms.