Tetramethylethylene

Tetramethylethylene is a hydrocarbon with the formula Me2C=CMe2 (Me = methyl). A colorless liquid, it is the simplest tetrasubstituted alkene.

Tetramethylethylene
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
2,3-Dimethylbut-2-ene
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard100.008.422 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 209-263-8
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C6H12/c1-5(2)6(3)4/h1-4H3
    Key: WGLLSSPDPJPLOR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • CC(=C(C)C)C
Properties
C6H12
Molar mass84.162 g·mol−1
Appearancecolorless liquid
Density0.7075 g/cm3 (20 °C)
Melting point−74.6 °C (−102.3 °F; 198.6 K)
Boiling point73.3 °C (163.9 °F; 346.4 K)
Critical point (T, P)521.0(9) K, 3.4(1) MPa[1]
insoluble
Solubilitysoluble in ethanol, ether, acetone, chloroform[1]
−65.9×10−6 cm3·mol−1[1]
1.4122 (20 °C)[1]
Thermochemistry[1]
174.7 J·mol−1·K−1
270.2 J·mol−1·K−1
−101.4 kJ·mol−1 (liquid)
−68.1 kJ·mol−1 (gas)
Enthalpy of fusion fHfus)
6.45 kJ·mol−1 (at melting point)
32.51 kJ·mol−1 (25 °C)
29.64 kJ·mol−1 (at boiling point)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS02: FlammableGHS08: Health hazard
Danger
H225, H304
P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P280, P301+P310, P303+P361+P353, P331, P370+P378, P403+P235, P405, P501
Flash point−8 °C
401 °C[1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Synthesis

It can be prepared by base-catalyzed isomerization of 2,3-dimethyl-1-butene.[2] Another route involves direct dimerization of propylene.[3] It can also be produced by photolysis of tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3-dione.[4]

Reactions

Tetramethylethylene forms metal-alkene complexes with low-valent metals and reacts with diborane to give the monoalkyborane known as thexylborane.[5][6]

Oxidation gives pinacol.

It is a precursor to the herbicide fenpropathrin.[3]

References