methylalkanes

Methylalkanes are a class of organic compounds that are isomers of alkanes. This means they have the same chemical formula as a straight-chain alkane but differ in their structure. Specifically, methylalkanes are branched-chain alkanes where a methyl group (CH3-) is attached to the main carbon chain. The simplest methylalkane is isobutane, also known as 2-methylpropane, which has the chemical formula C4H10, the same as n-butane. Other methylalkanes exist, such as 2-methylbutane (isopentane) and 3-methylpentane, which are isomers of pentane and hexane respectively. The presence of branching affects the physical properties of these compounds, such as their boiling points and melting points, which are generally lower than those of their straight-chain counterparts due to weaker intermolecular van der Waals forces. Methylalkanes are found naturally in petroleum and natural gas. They are also synthesized for various industrial applications, often as components of gasoline or as solvents. Their chemical reactivity is similar to that of other alkanes, primarily undergoing combustion and free-radical halogenation reactions.