Gelation Properties of Aprotic Low-Molecular-Mass Organic Gelators Based on a Gemini 4-[2-(Perfluoroalkyl)ethylsulfanyl]phenoxy Derivative Unit

Abstract Gelation properties of aprotic low-molecular-mass organic gelators (LMOGs) based on a gemini 4-[2-(perfluoroalkyl)ethylsulfanyl]phenoxy derivative unit are described. These LMOGs without hydrogen-bonding functional groups produced physical gels in several organic solvents such as ethanol, 1-octanol, acetonitrile, DMF, DMSO, propylene carbonate, and γ-butyrolactone at low concentration below 1 wt %. From the results of microscope observation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, these aprotic LMOG molecules were aggregated into tape-shaped molecular nanofibers, and formed three-dimensional networks. In addition, the self-diffusion coefficient of the solvent molecules in these networks was similar to that of neat, although these solvent molecules have non-fluidity by gelation.