Molecular design of "super" hydrogelators: understanding the gelation process of azobenzene-based sugar derivatives in water.
[structure: see text]. 1: R = beta-D-glucopyranoside. 2: R = alpha-D-glucopyranoside. 3: R = alpha-D-galactopyranoside. 4: R = alpha-D-mannopyranoside. As an attempt to rationally design aqueous organogelators, a bolaamphiphilic azobenzene derivative (1) bearing two sugar groups was synthesized. Compound 1 formed a gel in water even at concentrations as low as 0.05 wt % (0.65 mM). Spectroscopic studies and electron-micrographic observations have clarified the gel structure and the origin of the gelation ability for water.
Kobayashi
Hideki
H
Chemotransfiguration Project, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Aikawa, Kurume, Fukuoka 839-0861, Japan.
Friggeri
Arianna
A
Koumoto
Kazuya
K
Amaike
Masato
M
Shinkai
Seiji
S
Reinhoudt
David N
DN