tetra-tert-butylmethane
Also known as 3,3-di-tert-butyl-2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane
'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.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C17H36
- Molecular weight
- 240.5 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 3,3-ditert-butyl-2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane
via PubChem
Article
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'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.
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. It is speculated that at the pressures required to create this molecule, the carbon atoms form into diamond lattice.