Oxidatively stable esters

The invention relates to esters of the general formula CH3.O.CO(CH2)nCO.X where R is a phenyl or phenoxy group preferably attached to the phenylene group in the ortho or meta position and n = 1-5 preferably 2 or 3. The esters may be prepared by reacting an acid halide of the formula CH3.O.CO(CH2)nCO.X with a compound of the formula MO.C6H4.R where X is a halogen atom preferably chlorine, M is an alkali metal atom or a hydrogen atom, R is a phenyl or phenoxy group preferably in the ortho or meta positions and n = 1-5, the ester being recovered by distillation. Esters claimed per se are methyl o-phenylphenyl succinate, methyl m-phenoxyphenyl succinate, methyl m-phenoxyphenyl glutarate. In an example methyl o-phenylphenyl succinate is obtained by treating the methyl half-ester of succinic acid with thionyl chloride and reacting the acid chloride obtained with the sodium salt of o-phenylphenol. Other examples show the preparation of the other esters claimed per se.