NOVELTY - Producing (M1) a lube base stock, comprises: contacting substituted carboxylic acid compounds (I) and a feedstock of biological origin to form a ketone in the presence of a first catalyst comprising a basic material; and hydrogenating the ketone to a hydrocarbon in the presence of a second catalyst comprising a hydrogenation catalyst and a hydrothermally stable binder.    USE - The method is useful for producing a lube base stock (claimed) or alkylated naphthalene, where the lube base stock is used as process oils, white oils, metal working oils and heat transfer fluids, and to produce lubricants including lubricating oils for automobiles, industrial lubricants and lubricating greases.    ADVANTAGE - The method: is simple; and provides base stock having lower pour point and is free of carbonyl groups and vinylic hydrogen.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Producing (M1) a lube base stock, comprises: contacting substituted carboxylic acid compounds of formula (I) and a feedstock of biological origin to form a ketone in the presence of a first catalyst comprising a basic material; and hydrogenating the ketone to a hydrocarbon in the presence of a second catalyst comprising a hydrogenation catalyst and a hydrothermally stable binder.    R1 = acyclic hydrocarbyl, cyclic hydrocarbyl, or aryl (all optionally substituted by at least one of -R1a-OR1a, -C(O)R1a, or -C(O)OR1a), preferably phenyl or naphthalenyl;    R1a = H or 1-6C alkyl; and    n = 1-5, preferably 1-3.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) producing (M2) a lube base stock, comprising coupling (I) and substituted carboxylic acid compounds of formula (R2-C(=O)-OH) (II) in the presence of a first catalyst component comprising a basic material to produce a ketone compound of formula R1-(C(=O)-R2)n (III), and hydrogenating (II) to a hydrocarbon with a second catalyst comprising a hydrogenation catalyst and a hydrothermally stable binder; and    (2) producing a lube base stock, comprising contacting (I) and a feedstock of biological origin in the presence of a first catalyst comprising a basic material and a second catalyst comprising a hydrogenation catalyst and a hydrothermally stable binder in a single reactor.    R2 = R1.