Biofuel and method of synthesis of the same

1 . A one-pot method for producing a di(2-ethylhexyl) ether having a

wherein the method comprises an integrated catalytic conversion of a C 4 croton aldehyde having the general formula 2:

and wherein said the comprises acid catalyzed etherification of a branched C 8 alcohol having the general formula 6:

as prepared through the following reaction scheme:

according to any one of the following reactions:

a) reacting compound 6 with 4 wt. % H 2 SO 4 solid on silica at 180° C. for 12 h, neat, wherein water is removed, resulting in an 80:20 ratio of compound 7 and compound 13 having formula:

and 99% conversion of said compound 6:

and/or

b) reacting compound 6 with 4 wt. % H 2 SO 4 in a liquid at 180° C. for 12 h, neat, wherein water is removed, resulting in a 90:10 ratio of compound 7 and compound 13 and a 99% conversion of said compound 6

to form the di(2-ethylhexyl) ether.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a Ni(0) metal catalyst is used in the step of producing the branched aldehyde according to formula 5.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the integrated catalytic conversion of a C 4 croton aldehyde is performed under 10 bar H 2 at 100 to 120° C. during for 4 hours in a solvent.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the integrated catalytic conversion of the C 4 croton aldehyde is performed in toluene as a solvent.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid catalyzed etherification reaction is performed using a Dean-Stark equipment to remove water.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduction of the branched C 8 aldehyde (5) to the branched C 8 alcohol (6) is performed using a Ni(0) based catalyst.