Process for preparing compositions useful as intermediates for preparing lubricating oil and fuel additives

A process comprising reacting, optionally in the presence of an acidic catalyst selected from the group consisting of organic sulfonic acids, heteropolyacids, and mineral acids,

• (A) at least one olefinic compound of the general formula
• (R1)(R2)C═C(R6)(CH(R7)(R8)) (III)
• wherein each of R1 and R2 is, independently, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon based group and each of R6, R7 and R8 is, independently, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon based group;
• (B) at least one carboxylic reactant selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula
• R3C(O)(R4)nC(O)OR5 (IV)
• and compounds of the formula
• wherein each of R3, R5 and each R9 is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group, R4 is a divalent hydrocarbylene group, and n is 0 or 1, in amounts ranging from 0.6 moles (B) per mole of (A) to 1.5 moles (B) per equivalent of (A);
• and from about 0.5 to about 2 moles, per mole of (B), of
• (C) at least one aldehyde or ketone.