Organic tungsten complexes

1. A process for preparing an organic tungsten complex, comprising the steps of, in order:

(a) providing a strongly acidic tungsten precursor having pH≦2.5, and either

(b)(i) (A) reacting the tungsten precursor with a nitrogenous base to form a tungsten salt intermediate having a pH ranging from ≧5 to ≦8.5, and

(B) reacting the tungsten salt intermediate with a fatty acid derivative of an alcohol, the fatty acid derivative of an alcohol containing at least one free hydroxyl group; or

(b)(ii) reacting the tungsten precursor with a fatty acid derivative of an alcohol, the fatty acid derivative of an alcohol containing at least one free hydroxyl group and a nitrogenous base.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein step (a) further comprises preparing the tungsten precursor by, in order:

(i) selecting an aqueous tungsten source having pH>2.5, and

(ii) adjusting the pH to ≦2.5.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein step (a) further comprises preparing the tungsten precursor by, in order:

(i) selecting an aqueous tungsten source at pH>2.5

(ii) (A) adjusting the pH of the tungsten source to pH≦7, and

(B) combining with adjusted tungsten source with an acid to bring the pH of the tungsten source to ≦2.5.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein step (ii)(A) comprises adjusting the pH of the tungsten source to pH≧8.5.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein in step (b)(i)(A), the tungsten precursor is reacted with the nitrogenous base at a molar ratio of about 1:0.05 to about 1:2.

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the molar ratio is about 1:1.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein in step (b)(i)(B), the tungsten salt intermediate is reacted with the fatty acid derivative of an alcohol at a ratio of one mole tungsten atoms to at least one mole of free hydroxyl groups.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid derivative of an alcohol is chosen from the group consisting of monoglyceride, diglyceride, fatty amide and fatty amide/glyceride mixture, wherein the fatty amide is in turn a reaction product of a fatty oil, monoglyceride, diglyceride or triglyceride, with an ethanolamine.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the fatty acid derivative of an alcohol is chosen from the group consisting of glycerol monooleate, glycerol monostearate and fatty acid ethanolamide.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the tungsten precursor is sodium tungstate dihydrate.

11. The process of claim 3 , wherein in step (a)(i)(B), the acid is sulfuric acid.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein in step (b)(i)(A), the nitrogenous base is ethyldiisopropylamine.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein in step (b)(i)(A), the nitrogenous base is triethylamine.

14. A process for preparing a lubricating composition comprising, adding to a major amount of a lubricating base, an amount of organic tungsten complex prepared according to claim 1 to provide about 10 to 3000 ppm tungsten in the lubricating composition.

15. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the amount of organic tungsten complex is added to provide about 10 to 1000 ppm tungsten.

16. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the amount of organic tungsten complex is added to provide about 100 to 1000 ppm tungsten.

17. The process according to claim 16 , wherein the amount of organic tungsten complex is added to provide about 700 ppm tungsten.

18. An organic tungsten complex formed as the reaction product of the process according to claim 1 .