NOVEL BRANCHED ETHER COMPOUND AND ITS PRODUCTION

PURPOSE:To provide a novel compound having good heat resistance and useful as a lubricant, fiber oil, surfactant and resin additive. CONSTITUTION:The branched ether compound of formula I [R -R are 1-36C linear or branched chain alkyl, group of formula II (R is 1-30C linear alkyl, aromatic hydrocarbon group, etc.; AO is 2-3C oxyalkylene; (1) is 1-100), etc., but at least one of R -R has an oxyalkylene group]. The compound is obtained by esterifying 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (anhydride) with a compound of formula III or IV (R is 1-6C linear alkyl, alkenyl, etc.; (m) is 0-100; R is aromatic hydrocarbon; (n) is 1-100 (but at least one of the compounds has the oxyalkylene groups) at 100-270 deg.C. The compound of formula III or IV includes laurylalcohol ethylene oxide adduct and nonylphenol ethylene oxide adduct.