Abstract: Alpha-olefins are oligomerized to a product useful as a synthetic lubricant in a continuous process utilizing a promoted boron trifluoride catalyst. The oligomerization is carried out in a system comprising a plurality of loop recycle reactors arranged in series, the reaction being preferably carried out such that:(A) The total residence time of alpha-olefin monomer/oligomerization product in the system is from about 1 to about 2 hours; and(B) The flow rate through each of the plurality of loop recycle reactors effects a turnover of reactor contents of each reactor at least once every 5 minutes.