Tetra-tert-butylmethane
Chemical compound / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tetra-tert-butylmethane is a hypothetical organic compound with formula C17H36, consisting of four tert-butyl groups bonded to a central carbon atom. It would be an alkane, specifically the most compact branched isomer of heptadecane.
Names | |
---|---|
Preferred IUPAC name
3,3-Di-tert-butyl-2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
|
ChemSpider |
|
PubChem CID |
|
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
|
| |
| |
Properties | |
C17H36 | |
Molar mass | 240.475 g·mol−1 |
Related compounds | |
Related alkanes |
|
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
|
Some calculations suggest this compound cannot exist due to the steric hindrance among the closely packed tert-butyl groups, which would make it one of the smallest, if not the smallest itself, saturated and acyclic hydrocarbon that cannot exist.[1]
Other calculations suggest that the molecule would be stable, with the C–C bonds to the central ("methane") carbon having a length of 166.1 pm — longer than the typical C−C bond in order to reduce steric effects, but still shorter than those found in some other real molecules.[2]