The present invention relates to catalytic conversion of ketoacids, including methods for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids. The method can include providing in a reactor a raw material having at least one ketoacid. The raw material is then subjected to one or more CC-coupling reaction(s) in the presence of an ion exchange resin catalyst to produce at least one ketocid dimer. The method can include providing in a reactor a feedstock having the at least one ketoacid dimer and subjecting the feedstock to one or more CC-coupling reaction(s) at a temperature of at least 200 C.

The present invention relates to catalytic conversion of ketoacids, including methods for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids. The method can include providing in a reactor a raw material having at least one ketoacid. The raw material is then subjected to one or more CC-coupling reaction(s) in the presence of an ion exchange resin catalyst to produce at least one ketocid dimer. The method can include providing in a reactor a feedstock having the at least one ketoacid dimer and subjecting the feedstock to one or more CC-coupling reaction(s) at a temperature of at least 200 C.

Disclosed is a method of preparing a drilling fluid and lube base oil using biomass-derived fatty acid, including hydrogenating a fatty acid mixture derived from fat of biological origin so as to be converted into a fatty alcohol mixture, which is then dehydrated to give a C16 and C18 linear internal olefin mixture, which is then oligomerized to give olefinic lube base oil, followed by hydrofinishing to remove the olefin, yielding high-quality lube base oil (e.g. Group III or higher lube base oil). The C16 and C18 linear internal olefin mixture, which is a reaction intermediate, can be utilized as a high-quality drilling fluid.

Certain embodiments of the invention provide a lubricating oil composition comprising a lubricating oil base stock and a compound of formula (I):

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or a salt thereof, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 have any of the values defined in the specification, as well as methods of use thereof.

A lubricant formulation contains: (a) at least 50 weight-percent hydrocarbon base oil; (b) five to 50 weight-percent of an oil soluble polyalkylene glycol selected from monol, diol and triol initiated 1,2-butylene oxide homopolymer and monol initiated copolymers of 1,2-butylene oxide and propylene oxide; and (c) 0.1 to five weight-percent or less of a sulfurized olefin; where weight-percent is based on total lubricant formulation weight.

A lubricant formulation contains: (a) at least 50 weight-percent hydrocarbon base oil; (b) five to 50 weight-percent of an oil soluble polyalkylene glycol selected from monol, diol and triol initiated 1,2-butylene oxide homopolymer and monol initiated copolymers of 1,2-butylene oxide and propylene oxide; and (c) 0.1 to five weight-percent or less of a sulfurized olefin; where weight-percent is based on total lubricant formulation weight.

A lubricating composition includes an oil of lubricating viscosity and an ionic tetrahedral borate compound which includes a cation and a tetrahedral borate anion which includes a boron atom, the boron atom having at least one aromatic bidentate di-oxo ligand. The compound may be represented by formula (I), where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from C.sub.1-48 hydrocarbyl groups or together form a substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together represent a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring; m is 0 or 1; X is hydrogen, a C.sub.1-24 hydrocarbyl group, OR.sup.5, NHR.sup.5, or=O, R.sup.5 is a C.sub.1-24 hydrocarbyl group; M represents the cation; and n is at least 1. The cation may be selected to provide detergent and/or dispersant properties to the lubricating composition. In the case of ammonium cations, the molecular weight may be 260 g/mol or higher for providing a highly soluble compound, particularly when X is=O.

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A lubricating composition includes an oil of lubricating viscosity and an ionic tetrahedral borate compound which includes a cation and a tetrahedral borate anion which includes a boron atom, the boron atom having at least one aromatic bidentate di-oxo ligand. The compound may be represented by formula (I), where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from C.sub.1-48 hydrocarbyl groups or together form a substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together represent a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring; m is 0 or 1; X is hydrogen, a C.sub.1-24 hydrocarbyl group, OR.sup.5, NHR.sup.5, or=O, R.sup.5 is a C.sub.1-24 hydrocarbyl group; M represents the cation; and n is at least 1. The cation may be selected to provide detergent and/or dispersant properties to the lubricating composition. In the case of ammonium cations, the molecular weight may be 260 g/mol or higher for providing a highly soluble compound, particularly when X is=O.

##STR00001##

The present disclosure relates to novel compositions of additives that result from mixing at least two thermoassociative and exchangeable copolymers and at least one compound for controlling the association of these two copolymers. A lubricant composition results from mixing at least one lubricating base oil, at least two thermoassociative and exchangeable copolymers and at least one compound for controlling the association of these two copolymers. The present disclosure also relates to a process for modulating the viscosity of a lubricant composition that results from mixing at least one lubricating base oil, at least two thermoassociative and exchangeable copolymers; as well as the use of a diol compound for modulating the viscosity of a lubricant composition.

The present disclosure relates to novel compositions of additives that result from mixing at least two thermoassociative and exchangeable copolymers and at least one compound for controlling the association of these two copolymers. A lubricant composition results from mixing at least one lubricating base oil, at least two thermoassociative and exchangeable copolymers and at least one compound for controlling the association of these two copolymers. The present disclosure also relates to a process for modulating the viscosity of a lubricant composition that results from mixing at least one lubricating base oil, at least two thermoassociative and exchangeable copolymers; as well as the use of a diol compound for modulating the viscosity of a lubricant composition.