Molecular structure of neopentane

Abstract

We have recently studied the molecular structure of pivalonitrile, (CH₃)₃CCN, and have found the central C—C bond to be 1.46±0.02 A. The carbon skeleton in pivalonitrile is similar to that in neopentane and, therefore, a comparison of the C—C distance in neopentane with the central C—C distance in pivalonitrile should be a measure of the effect of an adjacent triple bond on the C—C distance. It was also considered interesting to see if the C—C distance in neopentane would be longer than in ethane due possibly to steric repulsions. The only parameters available for neopentane were from the early visual work of Pauling and Brockway and a reinvestigation of the structure of this molecule seemed timely.