Sulfur-containing silane, filled elastomeric compositions containing same and articles made therefrom

1. A sulfur-containing silane of general Formula (1):

[Y 1 SG 1 SiZ θ ] m [Y 2 SG 2 SiZ θ Z β ] n [Y 3 SG 3 SiZ β 3 ] o [Y 4 SG 4 SiZ β 2 X] p [Y 5 SG 5 SiZ β X 2 ] q [X] r   (1)

wherein:

each occurrence of G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , G 4 and G 5 is independently a hydrocarbylene group containing up to 15 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, and aralkylene groups;

each occurrence of X is independently selected from the group consisting of —R, —OR, —OC(═O)R 3 , H-A 2 G 6 (OH)(O—), R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (OH)O— and [R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 ] 2 G 6 O—, wherein each occurrence of A 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between R 1 and the carbonyl group, an oxygen atom and —NR 2 —; each occurrence of A 2 is independently selected from a covalent chemical bond between G 6 and the carbonyl group, an oxygen atom and —NR 2 —; each occurrence of R is independently selected from the group consisting of straight, cyclic and branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 12 carbon atoms; each occurrence of R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; each occurrence of R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; each occurrence of R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, aryl groups, and aralkyl groups containing from 1 to 29 carbon atoms; and G 6 is independently a hydrocarbylene group of from 3 to 15 carbon atoms;

each occurrence of Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , and Y 5 is independently selected from hydrogen and an acyl group, R 3 C(═O)—, wherein each occurrence of R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 30 carbon atoms;

each occurrence of Z β , which forms a bridging structure between two silicon atoms, is selected from the group consisting of [R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (O—) 2 ] 0.5 and [H-A 2 G 6 (O—) 2 ] 0.5 , wherein each occurrence of A 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between R 1 and the carbonyl group, an oxygen atom and —NR 2 ; each occurrence of A 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between G 6 and the carbonyl group, oxygen atom and —NR 2 —; each occurrence of R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; and each occurrence of G 6 is independently a hydrocarbylene group of from 3 to 15 carbon atoms;

each occurrence of Z θ , which forms a cyclic structure with a silicon atom, is independently selected from the group consisting of R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (O—) 2 and H-A 2 G 6 (O—) 2 , wherein each occurrence of A 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between R 1 and the carbonyl group, oxygen atom and —NR 2 —; each occurrence of A 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between G 6 and the carbonyl group, oxygen atom and —NR 2 —; each occurrence of R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, aryl groups, and aralkyl groups containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; each occurrence of R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, aryl groups, and aralkyl groups containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; and each occurrence of G 6 is independently a hydrocarbylene group of from 3 to 15 carbon atoms;

each occurrence of subscripts m, n, o, p, q and r independently is an integer wherein m is 0 or 1; n is 0 to 18; o is 0 to 20; and, p is 0 to 20; q is 0 to 20 and r is 0 or 1, with the provisos that,

(i) when m is 1, r is 1 and n+o+p+q is 0,

(ii) when m is 0, r is 0 and n+o+p+q is equal to or greater than 2, and

(iii) the silane contain at least one Z β with the structure [R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (O—) 2 ] 0.5 or at least one Z θ of the structure R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (O—) 2 .

2. The sulfur-containing silane of claim 1 wherein:

each occurrence of G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , G 4 and G 5 is independently a hydrocarbylene group containing a straight or branched chain alkylene group of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; each occurrence of X is independently selected from the group consisting of —R, [R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 ] 2 G 6 O— and R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (OH)O—, wherein each A 1 is a covalent bond between R 1 and the carbonyl group; each A 2 is an oxygen atom; each R is independently a straight chain alkyl group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; each R 1 is independently an alkyl group containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms; each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and G 6 is independently a trivalent alkylene group of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms considered as derived from an alkane;

each occurrence of Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , and Y 5 is selected from hydrogen and an acyl group, R 3 C(═O)—, wherein R 3 is an alkyl group of from 6 to 12 carbon atoms;

each occurrence of Z β , which forms a bridging structure between two silicon atoms, is independently [R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (O—) 2 ] 0.5 , wherein each A 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between R 1 and the carbonyl group; each A 2 is an oxygen atom; each R 1 is independently an alkyl group containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms; and each G 6 is independently a trivalent alkylene group of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms considered as derived from an alkane; and,

each occurrence of Z θ , which forms a cyclic structure with a silicon atom, is independently R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (O—) 2 , wherein each A 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between R 1 and the carbonyl group; each A 2 is an oxygen atom; each R 1 is independently an alkyl group containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms; and G 6 is independently a trivalent alkylene group of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms derived from an alkane.

3. The sulfur-containing silane of claim 2 wherein m is 1, r is 1 and n+o+p+q is 0.

4. The sulfur-containing silane of claim 3 wherein m is 0, r is 0 and n+o+p+q is equal to or greater than 2.

5. The sulfur-containing silane of claim 1 wherein X is [R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 ] 2 G 6 O— and R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (OH)O—, wherein each A 1 is a covalent bond between R 1 and the carbonyl group; each A 2 is an oxygen atom; each R is independently a straight chain alkyl group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; each R 1 is independently an alkyl group containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms; each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen and an alkyl group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and G 6 is independently a trivalent alkylene group of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms derived from an alkane.

6. The sulfur containing silane of claim 5 wherein R 1 is octyl and G 6 is CH 3 CH 2 C(CH 2 —) 3 .

7. The sulfur-containing silane of claim 1 wherein Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 and Y 5 are hydrogen.

8. The sulfur-containing silane of claim 1 which is at least one silane selected from the group consisting of hexanoic acid 2-(3-butyrylsulfanyl-propyl)-5-ethyl-2-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, hexanoic acid 2-(3-butyrylsulfanyl-propyl)-5-ethyl-2-ethoxy-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, hexanoic acid 2-(3-butyrylsulfanyl-propyl)-2-(3-hexanoyloxy-4-hydroxy-propoxy)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 2-(3-hexanoyloxymethyl-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-propoxy)-2-(3-hexanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-5-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, octanoic acid 2-(3-hexanoyloxymethyl-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-propoxy)-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-5-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, 2-ethyl-hexanoic acid 2-[3-(2-ethyl-hexanoyloxymethyl)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-propoxy]-2-[3-(2-ethyl-hexanoylsulfanyl)-propyl]-5-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, 2-ethyl-hexanoic acid 2-[4-(2-ethyl-hexanoyloxy)-3-methyl-butoxy]-2-[3-(2-ethyl-hexanoylsulfanyl)-propyl]-5-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-2-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 2-ethoxy-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester,octanoic acid 2-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-(2-hydroxymethyl-2-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 2-(2,2-bis-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 2-(2,2-bis-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-5-ethyl-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-(2-hydroxymethyl-2-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-{2-[5-ethyl-5-hydroxymethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxymethyl]-2-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy}-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-{2-[5-ethyl-5-octanoyloxymethyl-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxymethyl]-2-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy}-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, Octanethioic acid 3-(5-ethyl-2-{2-ethyl-4-(3-ethyl-3-methyl-heptanoylamino)-2-(octanoylamino-methyl)-3-[2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxy]-butoxy}-5-octanoylamino-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yl)-propyl ester, octanethioic acid 3-(5-ethyl-2-{2-ethyl-4-hexyloxycarbonyloxy-2-hexyloxycarbonyloxymethyl-3-[2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxy]-butoxy}-5-hexyloxycarbonyloxymethyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yl)-propyl ester, octanethioic acid 3-(5-ethyl-2-{2-ethyl-4-hexylcarbamoyloxy-2-hexylcarbamoyloxymethyl-3-[2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxy]-butoxy}-5-hexylcarbamoyloxymethyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yl)-propyl ester, octanethioic acid 3-(5-ethyl-2-{2-ethyl-4-hexylcarbamoyloxy-2-hexylcarbamoyloxymethyl-3-[2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxy]-butoxy}-5-hexylcarbamoyloxymethyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yl)-propyl ester, acetic acid 2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, N-{2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl}-acetamide, carbonic acid 2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester propyl ester, thioacetic acid S-[3-(ethoxy-{2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-propoxycarbonyloxymethyl-butoxy}-methyl-silanyl)-propyl]ester, thioacetic acid S-[3-(ethoxy-{2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-2-propoxycarbonyloxymethyl-butoxy}-ethoxy-silanyl)-propyl]ester, acetic acid 2-{2-acetoxymethyl-2-[{2-acetoxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, octanoic acid 2-{2-octanoyloxymethyl-2-[{2-octanoyloxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-octanonylsulfanyl-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, acetic acid 2-[{2-acetoxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, acetic acid 2-[{2-acetoxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-ethoxy-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, octanoic acid 2-[{2-octanoyloxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-diethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, acetic acid 2,2-bis-[(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, acetic acid 2,2-bis-[(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, octanoic acid 2-[(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-ethyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, octanoic acid 2-[(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-ethoxy-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-(3-mercapto-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, and octanoic acid 2-[ethoxymethyl-(2,2-bis-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-(3-octanonylsulfanyl-propyl)-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(2,2-bis-aoctanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-(3-mercapto-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester.

9. The partial to substantially complete hydrolyzate(s) of sulfur-containing silane of general Formula (1) of claim 1 .

10. A process for preparing sulfur-containing silane prepared by the process which comprises reacting

a) at least one sulfur-containing silane of general Formulae (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6):

(Y 1 S)-G 1 -(SiX 1 X 2 X 3 )   (2)

(Y 2 S)-G 2 -(SiX 1 X 2 X 3 )   (3)

(Y 3 S)-G 3 -(SiX 1 X 2 X 3 )   (4)

(Y 4 S)-G 4 -(SiX 1 X 2 X 3 )   (5)

(Y 5 S)-G 5 -(SiX 1 X 2 X 3 )   (6)

wherein:

each occurrence of G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , G 4 and G 5 is independently a hydrocarbylene group containing from 1 to 15 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, or aralkylene;

each occurrence of X 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —Br, R 3 O—, R 3 C(═O)O—, R 3 2 C═NO—, and R 3 2 NO—, wherein each R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 30 carbon atoms;

each occurrence of X 2 and X 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —Br, R 3 O—, R 3 C(═O)O—, R 3 2 C═NO—, R 3 2 NO— and R, wherein each occurrence of R is independently selected from the group consisting of straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and each occurrence of R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic and branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 30 carbon atoms;

each occurrence of Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 3 , and Y 5 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an acyl group, R 3 C(═O)—, wherein each occurrence of R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight, cyclic and branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 30 carbon atoms; with

b) one or more dihydroxyl-containing compounds of general Formula (7):

R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 G 6 (OH) 2 ,   (7)

wherein A 1 is selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between R 1 and the carbonyl group, an oxygen atom and —NR 2 —; A 2 is selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between G 6 and the carbonyl group, oxygen atom and —NR 2 —; R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic and branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; and, G 6 is a hydrocarbylene group of from 3 to 15 carbon atoms; thereby producing sulfur-containing silane of Formula (1).

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the sulfur-containing silane(s) of Formulae (2) to (6) are further reacted with one or more monohydroxyl-containing compounds of general Formula (8):

[R 1 A 1 C(═O)A 2 ] 2 G 6 OH,   (8)

wherein each occurrence of A 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between R 1 and the carbonyl group, oxygen atom and —NR 2 —; each occurrence of A 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent chemical bond between G 6 and the carbonyl group, an oxygen atom and —NR 2 —; each occurrence of R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; each occurrence of R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic or branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; and, G 6 is a hydrocarbylene group of from 3 to 15 carbon atoms.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein the sulfur-containing silane(s) of Formulae (2) to (6) are further reacted with one or more dihydroxyl- and/or trihydroxyl-containing compounds of general Formula (9):

H-A 2 G 6 (OH) 2   (9)

wherein A 2 is selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom and —NR 2 — wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight, cyclic and branched alkyl, akenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups containing up to 10 carbon atoms; and, G 6 is independently a hydrocarbylene group of from 3 to 15 carbon atoms.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein the process is carried out in a continuous operation which comprises:

a) reacting, in a thin film reactor, a thin film reaction medium comprising a mixture of at least one silane of Formulae (2), (3), (4) (5) and/or (6) with at least one polyhydroxy-containing compound of Formula (7), optionally of Formulae (8) and/or (9), and optionally a transesterification catalyst, to provide silane(s) that contain a cyclic and/or bridged dialkoxy group, and by-product monoalcohol;

b) vaporizing by-product monoalcohol from the thin film to drive the reaction;

c) optionally, recovering by-product monoalcohol;

d) recovering reaction product(s); and,

e) optionally, neutralizing the reaction medium to increase the storage stability of the silane product(s) therein.

14. The process of claim 10 wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature ranging from 0 to 200° C. while maintaining a pressure in the range of from 0.1 to 2000 mm Hg absolute.

15. The process of claim 10 carried out in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of at least one transesterification catalysts.

16. The process of claim 10 wherein the process provides at least one sulfur-containing silane product selected from the group consisting of hexanoic acid 2-(3-butyrylsulfanyl-propyl)-5-ethyl-2-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, hexanoic acid 2-(3-butyrylsulfanyl-propyl)-5-ethyl-2-ethoxy-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, hexanoic acid 2-(3-butyrylsulfanyl-propyl)-2-(3-hexanoyloxy-4-hydroxy-propoxy)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 2-(3-hexanoyloxymethyl-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-propoxy)-2-(3-hexanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-5-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, octanoic acid 2-(3-hexanoyloxymethyl-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-propoxy)-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-5-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, 2-ethyl-hexanoic acid 2-[3-(2-ethyl-hexanoyloxymethyl)-4-hydroxy-3 -methyl-propoxy]-2-[3-(2-ethyl-hexanoylsulfanyl)-propyl]-5-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, 2-ethyl-hexanoic acid 2-[4-(2-ethyl-hexanoyloxy)-3-methyl-butoxy]-2-[3-(2-ethyl-hexanoylsulfanyl)-propyl]-5-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-2-methyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 2-ethoxy-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester,octanoic acid 2-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-(2-hydroxymethyl-2-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 2-(2,2-bis-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 2-(2,2-bis-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-5-ethyl-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-(2-hydroxymethyl-2-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-{2-[5-ethyl-5-hydroxymethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxymethyl]-2-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy}-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanoic acid 5-ethyl-2-{2-[5-ethyl-5-octanoyloxymethyl-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxymethyl]-2-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy}-2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-yl ester, octanethioic acid 3-(5-ethyl-2-{2-ethyl-4-(3-ethyl-3-methyl-heptanoylamino)-2-(octanoylamino-methyl)-3-[2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxy]-butoxy}-5-octanoylamino-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yl)-propyl ester, octanethioic acid 3-(5-ethyl-2-{2-ethyl-4-hexyloxycarbonyloxy-2-hexyloxycarbonyloxymethyl-3-[2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxy]-butoxy}-5-hexyloxycarbonyloxymethyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yl)-propyl ester, octanethioic acid 3-(5-ethyl-2-{2-ethyl-4-hexylcarbarnoyloxy-2-hexylcarbamoyloxymethyl-3-[2-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxy]-butoxy}-5-hexylcarbamoyloxymethyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yl)-propyl ester, octanethioic acid 3-(5-ethyl-2-{2-ethyl-4-hexylcarbamoyloxy-2-hexylcarbamoyloxymethyl-3-[2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yloxy]-butoxy}-5-hexylcarbamoyloxymethyl-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-2-yl)-propyl ester, acetic acid 2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, N-{2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl}-acetamide, carbonic acid 2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[ethoxy-(3 -mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester propyl ester, thioacetic acid S-[3-(ethoxy-{2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-propoxycarbonyloxymethyl-butoxy}-methyl-silanyl)-propyl]ester, thioacetic acid S-[3-(ethoxy-{2-[ethoxy-(4-mercapto-butyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-2-propoxycarbonyloxymethyl-butoxy}-ethoxy-silanyl)-propyl]ester, acetic acid 2-{2-acetoxymethyl-2-[{2-acetoxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, octanoic acid 2-{2-octanoyloxymethyl-2-[{2-octanoyloxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-octanonylsulfanyl-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-5-ethyl-2-(3-mercapto-propyl)-[1,3,2]dioxasilinan-5-ylmethyl ester, acetic acid 2-[{2-acetoxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, acetic acid 2-[{2-acetoxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-ethoxy-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, octanoic acid 2-[{2-octanoyloxymethyl-2-[ethoxy-(3-mercapto-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butoxy}-(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-diethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, acetic acid 2,2-bis-[(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, acetic acid 2,2-bis-[(3-acetylsulfanyl-propyl)-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, octanoic acid 2-[(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-ethyl-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-(3-mercapto-propyl)-methyl-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, octanoic acid 2-[(3-octanoylsulfanyl-propyl)-ethoxy-(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-butoxy)-(3-mercapto-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester, and octanoic acid 2-[ethoxymethyl-(2,2-bis-octanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-(3-octanonylsulfanyl-propyl)-silanyloxymethyl]-2-[(2,2-bis-aoctanoyloxymethyl-butoxy)-(3-mercapto-propyl)-ethoxy-silanyloxymethyl]-butyl ester.

17. Free-flowing particulate composition which comprises:

a) at least one particulate filler; and,

b) at least one silane of Formula (1) in admixture with and/or chemically bonded to particulate (a).

18. The free-flowing particulate composition of claim 17 wherein the particulate is at least one member selected from the group consisting of metal oxide, siliceous material and carbon black.

19. The free-flowing particulate composition of claim 18 wherein the metal oxide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of silica, titanium and alumina; and, the siliceous material is at least one member of the group consisting of aluminosilicate, clay and talc.

20. The free-flowing particulate composition of claim 19 wherein the particulate is at least one member selected from the group consisting of mixtures of silica and carbon black and mixtures of silica and alumina.

21. A rubber composition comprising (a) at least one rubber component, (b) at least one particulate filler and (c) at least one sulfur-containing silane of claim 1 .

22. An article of manufacture selected from the group consisting of tires, industrial goods, shoe soles, hoses, seals, gaskets and cable jackets of which at least one component is the cured rubber composition of claim 21 .