Pyridine‐Bridged Benzimidazolium Salts: Synthesis, Aggregation, and Application as Phase‐Transfer Catalysts

Abstract

Simply structured benzimidazolium salts efficiently gelate a variety of polar organic solvents. π-Stacking, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals interactions are responsible for the self-assembly process. A packing model is deduced from the single crystal structure of gelator 1. Fiber aggregates of benzimidazolium salts in acetonitrile are efficient phase-transfer catalysts (PTCs) for N-alkylation. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2008/z801628_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.