This disclosure provides low viscosity, low volatility aryl ether compounds represented by the formula: This disclosure also provides processes for producing the aryl ether compounds, lubricating oil basestocks and lubricating oils containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds, and a method for improving one or more of solubility and dispersancy of polar additives and/or sludge in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds.