Tetra-tert-butylmethane

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.

Tetra-tert-butylmethane

Skeletal formula of tetra-tert-butylmethane
Names
Preferred IUPAC name 3,3-Di-tert-butyl-2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane
Identifiers
CAS Number	4103-17-7 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	14288112 Y
PubChem CID	14123361
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID10556285
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	240.475 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). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

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]

See also

• Neopentane
• Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)methane
• Tetrafluoromethane
• Tetrachloromethane
• Tetrabromomethane
• Tetraiodomethane
• Tetraazidomethane
• Tetracyanomethane
• Tetraethynylmethane
• Tetranitromethane