US Patent 11472759 Etherification process

The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethers, particularly unsymmetrical ethers, and preferably ethers suitable for use as base stocks for lubricant compositions. In particular, the process involves the reaction of an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde with a trihydrocarbyl orthoester to form an α,β-unsaturated acetal and conversion of the α,β-unsaturated acetal to an ether through hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis.