A process for reproducibly forming a thermally and oxidatively stable high hydroxyl glycerol di-ester compound which is particularly useful as a lubricant. The glycerol di-ester compound is formed by reacting a glycidyl ester with an excess of a neo acid salt. The di-ester product is produced in a nearly quantitative conversion and is readily recoverable from the reaction mixture via a water wash, vacuum dry, and a mild wiped film evaporator treatment.