3,3-Dimethylpentane is one of the isomers of heptane. 3,3-Dimethylpentane has a boiling point of 86.0 ðC and melting point of âÂÂ134.9 ðC. Its density is 0.6934. The refractive index is 1.39092 at 20 ðC.
A method to produce 3,3-dimethylpentane is to react tert-amyl chloride (CH<sub>3</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>(CH<sub>3</sub>)C<sub>2</sub>Cl) with propionaldehyde producing 3,3-dimethylpentan-2-ol. This is then dehydrated to produce 3,3-dimethylpent-2-ene, which when hydrogenated produces some 3,3-dimethylpentane, but also 2,3-dimethylpentane.
In 1929 Graham Edgar and George Calingaert made 3,3-dimethylpentane and measured its physical characteristics for the first time. The measurements were at 20 ðC, not the standard conditions used in later times.
For 3,3-dimethylpentane they measured a density of 0.6934 at 20 ðC with a rate of change ÃÂd/ÃÂT of 0.000848. The dielectric constant is 1.940. The refractive index at 20ð is 1.39114. The adiabatic compressibility is 0.00011455 and isothermal compressibility is 0.00014513 atmospheres. The velocity of sound is 1.1295 km/s. Coefficient of thermal expansion is 0.002467/ð. Surface tension is 19.63 dynes/cm. Viscosity is 0.00454. The heat of combustion is 11470 cal/g which is very similar to other heptanes.