Excellent gelators for organic fluids: Simple bolaform amides derived from amino acids

Abstract

The gelation of organic solvents by low molecular weight gelators is an area of study still in its infancy. Difficulties in the design of universal gelators suitable for a wise variety of liquids arise because the self‐aggregation of teh molecules strongly depends on the polarity of the solvent. The bolaform amides presented, derived from N ‐protected amino acids, are demonstrated to have gel‐forming abilities for a range of organic solvents. The driving force responsible for gelation in this case is suggested and it is proposed that the amides form an extended molecular sheet in the liquids.