alkylated naphthalene
Alkylated naphthalenes are chemical compounds made by the alkylation of naphthalene or its derivatives with an olefin. These compounds are used as synthetic base oils, and are claimed to have improved oxidative stability over some conventional base oils.{{cite book | chapter = Alkylated Aromatics | author = Margaret M. Wu | author-link = Margaret M. Wu | doi = 10.1201/9780203909898| title = Synthetic Lubricants And High- Performance Functional Fluids, Revised And Expanded| publisher = CRC Press | year = 1999 | isbn = 978-1-135-55029-5 | editor1 = Leslie R. Rudnick | editor2 = Ronald L. Shubkin}}{{cite web | author = Trevor Gauntlett | title = Alkylated Naphthalenes: The Mystery Base Fluid | url = https://www.lubesngreases.com/magazine-emea/1-8/alkylated-naphthalenes-the-mystery-base-fluid/ | publisher = Lubes 'n' Greases | date = 2018-07-15 | accessdate = 2023-03-29}}{{cite patent | status = application | number = 20040018944A1 | country = US | pubdate = 2004-01-29 | title = Alkylated naphthalenes as synthetic lubricant base stocks | invent1 = Margaret Wu | invent2 = Philip Trotto | assignee = ExxonMobil Research and Engineering}} Having an aromatic core, alkylated naphthalenes are better at solvating polar compounds than alkane mineral oils and polyalphaolefins.
In the context of lubrication, alkylated naphthalenes are considered Group V base oils by the American Petroleum Institute.{{cite web | publisher = American Petroleum Institute | url = https://www.api.org/~/media/files/certification/engine-oil-diesel/publications/anne-rev-03-25-15.pdf | title = Annex E - API Base Oil Interchangeability Guidelines for Passenger Car Motor Oils and Diesel Engine Oils | year = 2015}} For 2020, demand for this class of base oil (that includes other types of Group V base oils) was estimated at 823,000 tonnes per year.{{cite web | title = Synthetics gain ground | publisher = Infineum | url = https://www.infineuminsight.com/en-gb/articles/synthetics-gain-ground/ | date = 2015-04-15 | accessdate = 2023-03-29}} Commercial examples of alkylated naphthalene oils include ExxonMobil's Synesstic series{{cite web | url = https://www.exxonmobilchemical.com/en/products/synthetic-base-stocks/alkylated-naphthalene | title = Alkylated Naphthalene | publisher = ExxonMobil | accessdate = 2023-03-27}} and King Industries' NA-LUBE KR series.{{cite web | url = https://www.kingindustries.com/alkylated-naphthalene/ | title = Alkylated Naphthalene Synthetic Base Stocks & Modifiers | publisher = King Industries | accessdate = 2023-03-29}}