The present invention is a process for producing phenyl-alkanes by alkylation of an aryl compound with an olefinic compound and which uses a mordenite catalyst and a silica-alumina catalyst. This invention is also a process that sulfonates phenyl-alkanes having lightly branched aliphatic alkyl groups to produce modified alkylbenzene sulfonates. In addition, this invention is the compositions produced by these processes, which can be used as detergents having improved cleaning effectiveness in hard and/or cold water while also having biodegradability comparable to that of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, as lubricants, and as lubricant additives. This invention is moreover the use of compositions produced by these processes as lubricants and lubricant additives.