What is "isocetane"

n. (context organic compound English) 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane, a highly branched alkane used as a reference in determining the cetane number of diesel.

Isocetane (2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane) is a highly branched alkane used as a reference in determining the cetane number of diesel. It is given a cetane number of 15. Isocetane replaced 1-methylnaphthalene as the lower reference for cetane number (1-methylnaphthalene has cetane number zero) owing to the expense of 1-methylnaphthalene, and difficulty in safe handling.

Strictly speaking, if the standard meaning of ‘iso’ is followed, the name isocetane should be reserved for the isomer 2-Methylpentadecane. However, 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane is by far the most important isomer of cetane and so, historically, it has ended up with this name.