title: Exceptionally small supramolecular hydrogelators based on aromatic-aromatic interactions.
abstract: We report herein the use of an aromatic-aromatic interaction to produce small molecule hydrogelators that self-assemble in water and form molecular nanofibers in the resulting hydrogels. Among these hydrogelators, a hydrogelator (6) made from a phenylalanine and a cinnamoyl group represents the lowest molecular weight (MW = 295.33 g/mol) peptide-based hydrogelator prepared to date. The supramolecular hydrogels were characterized by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy, and the results obtained by both techniques correlate well with their rheological properties. Notably, compound 6 can undergo cis/trans-isomerization upon UV irradiation.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453.
authors: Junfeng
authors: J
authors: Shi
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Gao
authors: Zhimou
authors: Z
authors: Yang
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Xu