⚗️ With four methyls 🧪 Four-methyl group

tetramethyl

9.3

A group of four methyl groups attached to one atom in a molecule

noun
/ˌtɛtrəˈmɛθəl/

Specialized

: grupo tetrametilo

Researchers synthesized a compound containing a tetramethyl group to study its chemical stability.

Examples

The compound contains a tetramethyl group.
Chemists often use tetramethyl in organic synthesis.
The bulky tetramethyl group prevented nucleophiles from reaching the reactive center during the experiment.
Adding a tetramethyl substituent can significantly change the properties of a molecule.
The bulky tetramethyl group prevented nucleophiles from reaching the reactive center during the experiment.
Adding a tetramethyl substituent can significantly change the properties of a molecule.
Researchers synthesized a compound containing a tetramethyl group to study its chemical stability.

Surface Forms

tetramethyl singular

tetramethyls plural

Morphology

tetramethyl = methyl (transparent) = tetra + methyl

The word is formed by prefixing 'tetra-' (four) to 'methyl' (—CH3) to name a group of four methyls.

Etymology

Tetramethyl comes from tetra- 'four' and methyl 'a small one-carbon group', so a tetramethyl group means four methyl groups joined to a central atom and is often bulky, which can change how the molecule behaves.