Tetramethylbutane

Tetramethylbutane
Names
	IUPAC name 2,2,3,3-Tetramethylbutane
Identifiers
CAS Number	594-82-1 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	11185 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.008.961
EC Number	209-855-6;
PubChem CID	11675;
UNII	EB34RI15NY ;
UN number	1325
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID9073204 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C8H18/c1-7(2,3)8(4,5)6/h1-6H3 Key: OMMLUKLXGSRPHK-UHFFFAOYSA-N ;
	SMILES CC(C)(C)C(C)(C)C;
Properties
Chemical formula	C8H18
Molar mass	114.232 g·mol−1
Appearance	White, opaque, waxy crystals
Odor	Odorless
Melting point	98 to 104 °C; 208 to 219 °F; 371 to 377 K
Boiling point	106.0 to 107.0 °C; 222.7 to 224.5 °F; 379.1 to 380.1 K
Henry's law; constant (kH)	2.9 nmol Pa−1 kg−1
Thermochemistry
Heat capacity (C)	232.2 J K−1 mol−1 (at 2.8 °C)
Std molar; entropy (S⦵298)	273.76 J K−1 mol−1
Std enthalpy of; formation (ΔfH⦵298)	−270.3 – −267.9 kJ mol−1
Std enthalpy of; combustion (ΔcH⦵298)	−5.4526 – −5.4504 MJ mol−1
Hazards
Flash point	4 °C (39 °F; 277 K)
Explosive limits	1–?%
Related compounds
Related alkanes	Neopentane; 2,2-Dimethylbutane; 2,3-Dimethylbutane; Triptane; Tetraethylmethane; 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane; 2,3,3-Trimethylpentane; 2,3,4-Trimethylpentane; Tetra-tert-butylmethane;
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Tetramethylbutane, sometimes called hexamethylethane, is a hydrocarbon with formula C₈H₁₈ or (H₃C-)₃C-C(-CH₃)₃. It is the most heavily branched and most compact of the many octane isomers, the only one with a butane (C4) backbone. Because of its highly symmetrical structure, it has a very high melting point and a short liquid range; in fact, it is the smallest saturated acyclic hydrocarbon that appears as a solid at a room temperature of 25 °C. (Among cyclic hydrocarbons, cubane, C₈H₈ is even smaller and is also solid at room temperature.)

The compound can be obtained by reaction of Grignard reagent tert-butylmagnesium bromide with ethyl bromide, or of ethylmagnesium bromide with tert-butyl bromide in the presence of manganese(II) ions.^[2] This transformation is believed to go through the dimerization of two tert-butyl radicals, which are generated by decomposition of the organomanganese compounds generated in situ.

The full IUPAC name of the compound is 2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane, but the numbers are superfluous in this case because there is no other possible arrangement of "tetramethylbutane".

References

^ "Hexamethylethane - Compound Summary". PubChem Compound. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information. 26 March 2005. Identification and Related Information. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
^ M. S. KHARASCH; J. W. HANCOCK; W. NUDENBERG; P. O. TAWNEY (1956). "Factors Influencing the Course and Mechanism of Grignard Reactions. XXII. The Reaction of Grignard Reagents with Alkyl Halides and Ketones in the Presence of Manganous Salts". Journal of Organic Chemistry. 21 (3): 322–327. doi:10.1021/jo01109a016.

[1] "Hexamethylethane - Compound Summary". PubChem Compound. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information. 26 March 2005. Identification and Related Information. Retrieved 11 March 2012.

[KHARASCH-2] M. S. KHARASCH; J. W. HANCOCK; W. NUDENBERG; P. O. TAWNEY (1956). "Factors Influencing the Course and Mechanism of Grignard Reactions. XXII. The Reaction of Grignard Reagents with Alkyl Halides and Ketones in the Presence of Manganous Salts". Journal of Organic Chemistry. 21 (3): 322–327. doi:10.1021/jo01109a016.

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