Tetra-tert-butylmethane

Tetra-tert-butylmethane

Identifiers
CAS Number	4103-17-7
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	14288112
PubChem	14123361
InChI InChI=1S/C17H36/c1-13(2,3)17(14(4,5)6,15(7,8)9)16(10,11)12/h1-12H3 Key: CHNAIAPYMXIYRV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES CC(C)(C)C(C(C)(C)C)(C(C)(C)C)C(C)(C)C
Properties
Chemical formula	C17H36
Molar mass	240.48 g·mol^−1
Related compounds
Related alkanes	2,2-Dimethylbutane 2,3-Dimethylbutane Triptane Tetramethylbutane Tetraethylmethane 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane 2,3,3-Trimethylpentane 2,3,4-Trimethylpentane 2,3-Dimethylhexane 2,5-Dimethylhexane
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Tetra-tert-butylmethane is a hypothetical organic compound with formula C₁₇H₃₆, or ((H₃C-)₃C-)₄C. It would be an alkane, specifically the most compact branched isomer of heptadecane. The systematic name is 3,3-Di-tert-butyl-2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane.

This compound is of interest because it is believed to be the smallest saturated and acyclic hydrocarbon that cannot exist (due to steric hindrance).^[1] However calculations suggest that the molecule would be stable, with C–C bonds of 0.1661 nm — longer than the typical C−C bond but still shorter than those found in some other real molecules.^[2]

References

1. da Silva, K.M.; Goodman, J.M. (2005). "What is the smallest saturated acyclic alkane that cannot be made?". Journal of Chemical and Information Modeling. 45 (1): 81–87. doi:10.1021/ci0497657. PMID 15667132.
2. Cheng, M-F; Li, W-K (2003). "Structural and energetics studies of tri- and tetra-tert-butylmethane". Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 78 (1): 5492–5498. doi:10.1021/jp034879r.