In this study, novel fluorescent low molecular-weight
organogelators
are derived from diphenyl ethers and substituted with para-alkoxy
groups of different aliphatic chain lengths. The present research
promotes the preparation of innovative nanofeather-like assemblies
from the synthesized diphenyl ether-derived organogelators. The gelation
performance of the prepared alkoxy-substituted diphenyl ethers was
reported. The synthesis procedure was achieved by using a base-catalyzed
reaction of hydroxyl-substituted diphenyl with various alcohols of
different aliphatic chain lengths. The chemical structures of the
synthesized diphenyl ether derivatives were studied by
1
H/
13
C NMR and infrared spectroscopy. Fluorescence and
UV–vis absorption spectral analyses showed solvatochromism.
The diphenyl ether derivatives with longer alkoxy terminal substituents
showed enhanced thermoreversible gelation activity as compared to
the diphenyl ether derivatives with shorter alkoxy terminal substituents.
The morphological properties of the self-assembled diphenyl ethers
were studied by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron
microscopy, which showed supramolecular architectures of highly ordered
nanofeathers, enforced by van der Waals interactions and π-stacks.
Depending on the length of the aliphatic tail, different morphologies
were detected, including nanofeathers, nanofibers, and nanosheets.
The antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of the prepared diphenyl
ether-derived organogelators were examined to confirm their possible
use in various fields like drug delivery systems.