3,3-Dimethylhexane

3,3-Dimethylhexane is a colourless, odourless liquid, chemical compound in the family of hydrocarbons which has a formula of C8H18. It is an isomer of octane, where two methylene hydrogens at the third position in a hexane molecule have been replaced with two methyl groups.

3,3-Dimethylhexane is found in various herbs and spices. It is also a constituent in the oil of osmanthus fragrans and Ginseng. 3,3-Dimethylhexane is an acyclic alkane, where there are no cycles in the structure of the molecule.

It is one of the main extracts from cinnamon bark using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, with it being 10.6% of the extracted material; it is second behind trans-cinnamaldehyde with it being 32.1% of the extracted material.

Uses
3,3-dimethylhexane can be used in the production of phytochemical compounds which are effective in the removal of heavy metals, since when cyanobacteria are exposed to aliphatic compounds, or alkanes, and some heavy metals they produce phytochemical compounds which are effective in the removal of heavy metals. 3,3-dimethylhexane being both an alkane and an aliphatic compound can be used in this process.