Coupled phosphorus-containing amides, precursors thereof and lubricant

Abstract

A load-carrying agent and a lubricating composition containing such an agent is disclosed. The agent is preferably comprised of a statistical mixture of a plurality of different coupled phosphorus-containing amide compounds having the formula ##STR1## wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and X.sup.3, independently, is O or S; wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, independently, is a hydrocarbyl, a hydrocarbyl-based oxy, the hydrocarbyl portion of which contains 6 to 22 carbon atoms, or a hydrocarbyl-based thio having from 4 to about 34 carbon atoms; wherein R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, independently, is hydrogen, or an alkyl having from 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, or an aromatic, an alkyl-substituted aromatic or an aromatic-substituted alkyl having from 6 to about 34 carbon atoms; wherein n is 0 or 1; wherein n' is 1, 2 or 3; wherein R.sup.7 is hydrogen or an alkyl having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms; and wherein when n' is 1, R.sup.8 is selected from the group consisting of H, --ROH, --ROR, --RSR and ##STR2## and when n' is 2, R.sup.8 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR3## when n' is 3, R.sup.8 is ##STR4## wherein R is independently hydrogen or an alkyl moiety, alkylene or alkylidene containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms and R' is hydrogen or an alkyl moiety, alkylene, alkylidene or carboxyl containing 1 to 60 carbon atoms.