Abstract: Unsaturated .alpha.-olefin oligomers are topped to remove monomer and dimer and then distilled to remove a trimer fraction leaving a residue of tetramer, pentamer and higher oligomers. The trimer fraction is hydrogenated to form saturated .alpha.-olefin oligomer suitable for use as a lubricant.

Abstract: Synlubes having a consistently low pour point are made by feeding a promoter (e.g. water, alcohol) at a controlled rate over an extended time period to an .alpha.-olefin (e.g. 1-decene) in contact with boron trifluoride.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing liquid hydrocarbons (e.g., middle distillates or gasoline) comprising at least the following steps:(i) catalytically oligomerizing an olefins-containing feed,(ii) separating effluent from step (i) into at least two fractions of which at least one (e.g., a gasoline fraction) has a boiling range above that of the feed olefins, and(iii) recycling at least part of a higher boiling fraction obtained from step (ii) to step (i).Optionally, in a further step (iv), a higher boiling fraction is hydrocracked, e.g., to prepare additional gasoline and/or middle distillates.

Abstract: The viscosity index of synthetic lubricant stocks such as those produced by olefin oligomerization is increased by contacting such stocks with a solid acidic isomerization catalyst such as boron trifluoride at elevated temperatures, say above about 200.degree. C. The high viscosity index fractions of the resulting product may be sorbed by a shape-selective zeolite such as ZSM-5 and recovered to produce a high VI lubricant.

Abstract: Synthetic hydrocarbon lubricating materials are produced by cross oligomerizing a Dimersol olefin and a linear olefin with a catalyst comprising a metal oxide substrate having tantalum (v) halide/oxide bound to the surface thereof.

Abstract: Polyarylalkane oligomer compositions comprising a mixture of two oligomers A and B, wherein oligomer A is a mixture of isomers of formula: ##STR1## with n1 and n2=0, 1 and 2, given that n1+n2.ltoreq.3; and oligomer B is a mixture of isomers of formula: ##STR2## with n'1, n"1 and n4=0, 1 and 2, n'2, n"2, n3, n'3 and n5=0 and 1, given that n'1+n"1+n'2+n"2+n3+n'3+n4+n5.ltoreq.2.The invention also comprises the process for the preparation of said oligomer compositions by the action of a halide or inorganic acid on a product of free-radical chlorination of toluene.

Abstract: A stream comprising isobutylene and n-butenes is processed to effect dimerization of the isobutylene, and the resulting isobutylene dimer is fed to an alkylation step.

Abstract: A process for producing high octane DIP (2,3-dimethylbutane) from mixed C.sub.4 olefins comprising the steps of subjecting the mixed C.sub.4 olefines to double bond isomerization, skeletal isomerization, olefin disproportionation, olefin hydrogenation and fractionation to yield DIP.