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What is the largest molecule (synthetic or natural) that isn't a polymer -- let's say, bigger than 3000 dalton?

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  • $\begingroup$ Do covalent solids count? In that case, imagine the largest possible diamond, quartz crystal, etc. $\endgroup$
    – Variax
    Oct 31, 2016 at 10:29
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    $\begingroup$ Welcome to Chemistry.SE. I am worried that this question will not have a definitive answer. What I mean is that everyone who answers will provide the largest molecule they can think of. Then someone will discover a bigger molecule and invalidate all the existing answers. $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    Oct 31, 2016 at 10:44
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    $\begingroup$ I wouldn't expect a definitive answer, since the notions involved are not really well-defined. That being said, maitotoxin sounds like a good example. $\endgroup$
    – Ivan Neretin
    Oct 31, 2016 at 11:21
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    $\begingroup$ Are biomolecules such as proteins or DNA considered to be polymers? $\endgroup$
    – aventurin
    Oct 31, 2016 at 11:43
  • $\begingroup$ @aventurin - yes. $\endgroup$
    – VGranin
    Oct 31, 2016 at 11:46

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An old German book about chemical records (Quadbeck-Seeger, H.-J., Ed. Chemie Rekorde; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, 1997) gives the Cullinan Diamond as the largest found natural molecule and a synthetic diamond of 38.4 carat as the largest made artificial molecule.

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