Clear, colorless liquid with an odor similar to hexane. An odor threshold concentration of 840
ppbv was reported by Nagata and Takeuchi (1990).
Organic synthesis, oil extender solvent.
3-Methylhexane can be used as a model alkane to study:
- Cu-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of simple alkanes to corresponding branched monocarboxylic acids in aqueous medium at low-temperature.
- Au-catalyzed oxygenation of alkanes with H2O2 in acetonitrile.
- FeCI3 catalyzed photooxygenation of simple alkanes to corresponding alcohols in presence of atmospheric O2.
ChEBI: 3-methylhexane is an alkane that is hexane substituted by a methyl group at position 3. It has a role as a human metabolite. It is an alkane and a volatile organic compound.
Flammable, dangerous fire risk.
Schauer et al. (1999) reported 3-methylhexane in a diesel-powered medium-duty truck
exhaust at an emission rate of 310 μg/km.
California Phase II reformulated gasoline contained 3-methylhexane at a concentration of 16.2
g/kg. Gas-phase tailpipe emission rates from gasoline-powered automobiles with and without
catalytic converters were 2.95 and 415 mg/km, respectively (Schauer et al., 2002).
Photolytic. Based on a reported photooxidation reaction rate constant of 7.20 x 10-12
cm3/molecule?sec with OH radicals, the half-life of 3-methylhexane is 20 h (Altshuller, 1990).
Chemical/Physical. Complete combustion in air produces carbon dioxide and water vapor. 3-
Methylhexane will not hydrolyze because it does not contain a hydrolyzable functional group.
Purify it as for 2-methylhexene. [Beilstein 1 IV 399.]
