Self-Assembly and Nanostructures in Organogels Based on a Bolaform Cholesteryl Imide Compound with Conjugated Aromatic Spacer

Abstract

The self-assembly of small functional molecules into supramolecular structures is a powerful approach toward the development of new nanoscale materials and devices. As a class of self-assembled materials, low weight molecular organic gelators, organized in special nanoarchitectures through specific non-covalent interactions, has become one of the hot topics in soft matter research due to their scientific values and many potential applications. Here, a bolaform cholesteryl imide compound with conjugated aromatic spacer was designed and synthesized. The gelation behaviors in 23 solvents were investigated as efficient low-molecular-mass organic gelator. The experimental results indicated that the morphologies and assembly modes of as-formed organogels can be regulated by changing the kinds of organic solvents. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy observations revealed that the gelator molecule self-assemble into different aggregates, from wrinkle and belt to fiber with the change of solvents. Spectral studies indicated that there existed different H-bond formations between imide groups and assembly modes. Finally, some rational assembly modes in organogels were proposed and discussed. The present work may give some insight to the design and character of new organogelators and soft materials with special structures.

Spatially Placed Tryptophan Residues: A Strategy for Generating Molecules with Unique Self‐Assembly and Molecular Recognition Properties

“…We compared the NH‐ stretching frequencies of sample from 1:1 MeOH/CHCl 3 , with the initial powder form of the sample (blue line in Figure c). The presence of broad NH‐bands in the former indicated the presence of hydrogen bonds (Table S2) . We believe that these hydrogen bonds facilitate vesicular assembly.…”

Advances in Design and Self-Assembly of Functionalized LB Films and Supramolecular Gels

“…In addition, we have characterized the gelation behaviors of some bolaform cholesteryl amide compounds with large conjugated spacer [43,44]. We found that the formed nanostructures and self-assembly process in organogels could be regulated by solvent change.…”

Preparation and Self-assembly of Functionalized Nanocomposites and Nanomaterials – Relationship Between Structures and Properties

“…Moreover, for CH-C2 and CH-N1, the inefficient or poor gelation behaviors in used solvents may be mainly attributed to the too rigid or too flexible spacers in molecular skeletons, which cannot cause enough intermolecular forces to Moreover, another bolaform cholesteryl imide derivative with conjugated aromatic spacer was designed and prepared. The gelation performances in 23 solvents were tested as efficient lowmolecular-mass organic gelator [64]. The obtained data demonstrated that the morphologies and assembly modes of as-prepared organogels can be changed by regulating different kinds of organic solvents.…”