[1] It is an alcohol that can be viewed as a structural analog of a tridecane isomer (2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-t-butylpentane) where the central hydrogen has been replaced by a hydroxyl group -OH.

Tri-tert-butylcarbinol is arguably the most sterically hindered alcohol that has been prepared to date.

In contrast to all other known alcohols, the infrared spectrum of the liquid does not exhibit a broad OH absorption associated with intermolecular hydrogen bonding, making it interesting for research in spectroscopy.

Another structural analog, in which the COH group is replaced by N, is tri-tert-butylamine, a molecule predicted to be stable but has never been prepared.

[3] Later on, it was shown that under carefully selected conditions, the compound could be prepared in high yield (81%) by addition of tert-butyllithium to hexamethylacetone.