Process for making Group II metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenols

A process for preparing Group II metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenols which comprises the steps of

• (a) forming a reaction mixture by combining a sulfurized alkylphenol wherein the alkyl group contains a sufficient number of carbon atoms to render oil-soluble the resulting Group II metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenol, an alkanol containing about 6 to about 15 carbon atoms, a Group II metal oxide, hydroxide or C1-C6 alkoxide, and a C2-C10 alkylene glycol;
• and
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with an alkylene carbonate selected from ethylene carbonate or a mono-alkyl or di-alkyl substituted ethylene carbonate, said alkylene carbonate having the following structure:
• wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or alkyl containing one to three carbon atoms;
• and wherein the contacting is carried out for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form in situ carbon dioxide and alkylene glycol, or a reacting equivalent, to form a product comprising a Group II earth metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenol.

A process for preparing Group II metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenols which comprises the steps of:

• (a) forming a first reaction mixture by combining an alkylphenol wherein the alkyl group contains a sufficient number of carbon atoms to render oil-soluble the resulting Group II metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenol, an oil-soluble Group II metal overbased natural or synthetic hydrocarbyl sulfonic acid, sulfonate, or mixtures thereof, and an alkanol containing about 6 to about 15 carbon atoms, the temperature of said first reaction mixture being at least about 40° C.;
• (b) contacting said first reaction mixture with a second reaction mixture comprising a Group II metal oxide, hydroxide or C1-C6 alkoxide;
• a sulfurization agent and an inert hydrocarbon diluent at a temperature and for a time sufficient to effect sulfurization of the alkylphenol to form a third reaction mixture;
• (c) contacting said third reaction mixture with C2-C10 alkylene glycol to form a fourth reaction mixture;
• and
• (d) contacting said fourth reaction mixture with an alkylene carbonate selected from ethylene carbonate or a mono-alkyl or di-alkyl substituted ethylene carbonate, said alkylene carbonate having the following structure:
• wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or alkyl containing one to three carbon atoms, and wherein said contacting is carried out for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form in situ carbon dioxide and alkylene glycol, or a reacting equivalent, to form a product comprising a Group II earth metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenol.