A middle distillate, comprising hydrocarbons having a boiling range between 150° C. and 350° C., a NMR branching index greater than 60, and a CH3/CH2 hydrogen ratio greater than 2.6. Also, there is provided the middle distillate made by a process compressing alkylating an isoparaffin with an olefin under alkylation conditions over an unsupported ionic liquid catalyst, and providing an amount of halide containing additive to the alkylating step to achieve the NMR branching index and the CH3/CH2 hydrogen ratio.