Tetra-tert-butylmethane

Tetra-tert-butylmethane

Skeletal formula of tetra-tert-butylmethane
Identifiers
CAS Number	4103-17-7
ChemSpider	14288112 Y
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
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 Y Key: CHNAIAPYMXIYRV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
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). 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.