(E)-3,4-Di-tert-butylhex-3-ene-2,5-dione

Abstract

The title compound, C 14 H 24 O 2 , is a member of the family of sterically crowded olefins that show unusual geometries. The molecule displays crystallographic inversion symmetry. The central double bond is slightly elongated [1.344 (3) A]. In order to avoid steric repulsion, the C-C(tert-butyl) single bonds are markedly longer than in non-crowded ethylenes. Furthermore, the acetyl function is rotated out of the plane defined by the central double bond by 78.71 (6)°. The crystal packing shows C-H...O hydrogen bonds forming a honeycomb-like pattern.