Hexaphenylethane is a hypothetical organic compound consisting of an ethane core with six phenyl substituents.

[1] The trityl free radical, Ph3C · , was originally thought to dimerize to form hexaphenylethane.

A substituted derivative of hexaphenylethane, hexakis(3,5-di-t-butylphenyl)ethane, has however been prepared.

It features a very long central C–C bond at 167 pm (compared to the typical bond length of 154 pm).

Attractive London dispersion forces between the t-butyl substituents are believed to be responsible for the stability of this very hindered molecule.