This colourless, oily liquid is derived from pyridine by replacement of the two H atoms with tert-butyl groups.

[1] For example, it can be protonated, but it does not form an adduct with boron trifluoride.

2,6-Di-tert-butylpyridine is prepared by the reaction of tert-butyllithium with pyridine.

[2] The synthesis is reminiscent of the Chichibabin reaction.

Some related bulky pyridine compounds have been described, including 2,4,6-tri-t-butylpyridine[3] and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine.