Aliphatic branched olefin dioxolanes

A composition of matter comprising a major proportion of compounds defined according to a structure selected from the group consisting of:

• ##STR219## wherein in the mixture in each of the molecules one of the dashed lines represents a carbon-carbon double bond and each of the other of the dashed lines represent carbon-carbon single bonds, said composition of matter produced according to the process comprising the steps of:
• (a) dimerization of isoamylene having the structure:
• ##STR220## in the presence of an acid catalyst to form a mixture containing a major proportion of a mixture of compounds defined according to the structure:
• ##STR221## wherein (i) at least one of R.sub.3 ' and R.sub.4 ' represents methyl;
• (ii) the sum of the carbon atoms in R.sub.1 ', R.sub.2 ', R.sub.3 ', R.sub.4 ' and R.sub.5 ' is 3;
• and (iii) R.sub.1 ' and R.sub.2 ' represent hydrogen when R.sub.5 ' is methyl;
• (b) reacting the resulting diisoamylene mixture with a compound selected from the group consisting of an alkanoyl halide having 2 or 3 carbon atoms and an alkanoic acid anhydride having 4 or 6 carbon atoms to form a mixture containing a major proportion of compounds defined according to the structure:
• ##STR222## wherein R.sub.1 is C.sub.1 or C.sub.2 alkyl and wherein in the mixtures in each of the molecules one of the dashed lines represents a carbon-carbon double bond and the other of the dashed lines represent carbon-carbon single bonds;
• and
• (c) reacting the resulting mixture with a compound selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propylene glycol;
• 1,2-propylene oxide;
• 1,2-ethylene glycol;
• and 1,2-ethylene oxide at a temperature of between 0.degree. C. and 80.degree. C. in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst.