Heat-Set Gel-like Networks of Lipophilic Co(II) Triazole Complexes in Organic Media and Their Thermochromic Structural Transitions

Metal ion and anion-based "tuning" of a supramolecular metallogel

A bis(pyridylurea) ligand (1) forms metallogels in methanol in the presence of up to 0.5 equiv of copper(II) chloride. The metallogel has been characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, SEM, and MAS NMR spectroscopic techniques. The addition of further copper(II) chloride gives the unusual crystalline 4:3 coordination polymer [Cu3(1)4Cl4]Cl2 x nH2O (2). In the presence of 0.5 equiv of copper(II) nitrate, the 2:1 crystalline coordination polymer [Cu(1)2](NO3)2 x H2O x MeOH (5) is isolated. Both 2 and 5 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 5 represents a possible model for the gelator and highlights key interactions with counteranions that suggest a means to tune gel properties using anion binding. The influence of chloride and acetate anions (as their NBu4+ salts) on the rheological properties of the copper(II) chloride metallogels of 1 are investigated. The rheology of the anion-containing mixtures shows complex behavior with the gel structure apparently evolving over time.

Metallo-supramolecular gels based on a multitopic cyclam bis-terpyridine platform

The domain of soluble metallopolymers (i.e., polymers spontaneously obtained from the self-assembly of metal ions and polytopic bridging ligands) is promising for the construction of novel materials with perspectives in magnetic, redox, optical, electrochromic, or mechanical properties. We report the preparation and characterization of metallo-supramolecular gels based on a multitopic cyclam bis-terpyridine platform (CHTT) that are representative of a second generation of molecular gels exhibiting "intelligent" properties. The systems were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, viscosimetry, rheology, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). A basic analysis of the viscosity taking into account the interplay of hydrodynamic versus Brownian motions of 1D species is proposed. SANS data demonstrate the formation of rod-like species whose radius R and aspect ratio f = L/R were extracted. Rheological features are typical of weak gels having storage moduli of more than 1 order of magnitude weaker than for ordinary molecular organogels. These new molecular materials exhibit interesting properties: (i) chemosensitivity, with the gelation being dependent on the type of metal, stoichiometry M/CHTT, solvent, and counterion; (ii) electro-sensitivity: the Co(II)/CHTT system can be electrochemically and reversibly commuted between the gel (red) and liquid (green) states; and (iii) mechanical sensitivity, with the system being able to cycle from weakly to highly viscous states upon fast application/suppression of a shearing stress.

Rheological comparison of organogelators based on iron and aluminum complexes of dodecylmethylphosphinic acid and methyl dodecanephosphonic acid

Organogels were prepared from a 1:3 molar ratio of metal/ligand complexes of iron(III) or aluminum(III) with methyl dodecanephosphonic acid or dodecylmethylphosphinic acid at a concentration of 10 mM in dodecane. Gelation occurs spontaneously upon dissolution of the solid complex. Dynamic oscillatory measurements over the temperature range of 100-150 degrees C indicate that these materials behave as living polymers. Both reptation and reversible chain scission contribute to stress relaxation. The phosphonate ester complex gels are stronger than the corresponding dialkylphosphinate complex gels. Even at 150 degrees C, the phosphonate ester complexes maintained significant structure. Zero-shear viscosity activation energies are in the range of 26.5-61.2 kJ/mol, comparable to that for typical polymer melts.

Fluorescent magnesium(II) coordination polymeric hydrogel

A pH and mechano-responsive coordination polymeric gel was developed without the use of long chain hydrophobic groups. The hydrogel was synthesised by reacting the aqueous solution of Mg2+ with the basic aqueous solution of N-(7-hydroxyl-4-methyl-8-coumarinyl)-alanine. The gelation is attributed to the self-aggregation of 1D coordination polymers to form 3D nanostructures through non-covalent interactions to entrap water molecules. The freeze-dried hydrogel exhibits a fibrillar network structure with a uniform ribbon shape. UV/vis absorption studies illustrate that the hydrogel displays a typical pi-pi* transition. The fluorescence intensity of the hydrogel is enhanced drastically with a longer lifetime upon gel formation. Mechanical analysis including dynamic oscillation on shear, steady shear and creep (retardation-relaxation) testing have been performed to elucidate the supramolecular nature of the 3D assembly. Together with the viscoelastic properties and biocompatibility, the Mg2+ hydrogel may find utility as a novel soft material in biomedical applications.

Fluorescence enhancement of coordination polymeric gel

Instant hydrogelation of coumarin-derivatized glycine has been demonstrated in the absence of long-chain hydrophobic groups upon formation of a zinc(ii) coordination polymer, which exhibits fluorescence enhancement upon gelation.

Pentapeptide based organogels: the role of adjacently located phenylalanine residues in gel formation

A terminally protected self-assembling pentapeptide Boc-Leu(1)-Val(2)-Phe(3)-Phe(4)-Ala(5)-OMe 1 bearing sequence similarity with Aβ17-21 (the fragment 17-21 of the amyloid β-peptide Aβ42) forms thermoreversible transparent gels in various organic solvents including benzene, toluene, m-xylene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene. A series of its variants have been synthesized in order to study the role of adjacently located phenylalanine residues and the protecting groups for gelation in different organic solvents. Replacement of any of the Phe residues of the Phe-Phe segment with any other hydrophobic α-amino acid residue drastically changes the gel forming properties indicating that both Phe residues have an important role in gel formation. These gels are characterised using field emission scaning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) studies. WAXS studies of the peptide 1-benzene gel indicate that π-π interaction is responsible for gel formation and it reveals the necessity of the Phe residues in gel formation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the gels reveals a nanofibrillar morphology, which is obtained from the self-assembled gelators in the gel phase. These gels bind with a physiological dye, Congo red, and show a green birefringence under cross polarizers, which is a characteristic feature of amyloid fibrils.

Sodium Chains as Core Nanowires for Gelation of Organic Solvents from a Functionalized Nicotinic Acid and Its Sodium Salt

A new metallo-organic gelator formed from an admixture of a substituted nicotinic acid and its sodium salt is described. The nicotinic acid is substituted in the 6-position by an acetal functionality. The crystal structure of the 1:1 mixture revealed that the sodium atoms are aligned in infinite chains with the two organic units hydrogen bonded together to create potentially trinucleating ligands that encase the metal core, which leads to tube-like structures. These one-dimensional crystals were found to spontaneously gelify dichloromethane and provide pyridine gels with high thermal resistance. Gel formation was investigated by several analytical techniques, which included differential scanning calorimetry, TEM, freeze fracture electron microscopy (FFEM), IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, and was found to be induced by the swelling of the one-dimensional material. FFEM and powder X-ray diffraction have revealed that the sodium chains are associated in a highly compacted state into a layered structure inside the gel. Doping these robust gels with dyes by diffusion, such as xylene cyanol, methyl yellow and bromo thymol blue, is feasible without destruction of the gels.

New organogels based on an anthracene derivative with one urea group and its photodimer: fluorescence enhancement after gelation

By coupling the features of anthracene and urea, a new low-molecular-weight gelator (LMWG, 1) with anthracene and urea moieties was designed and synthesized. A nontransparent gel of LMWG 1 in 1,2-dichloroethane was formed and characterized. Of particular interest is the observation of significant fluorescence enhancement after gelation, which is referred as to gelation-induced enhanced fluorescence emission. UV light irradiation of the THF solution of LMWG 1 yielded a photodimer with the h-t conformation. The photodimer can gel several organic solvents, including cyclohexane, n-hexane, and n-heptane. It should be mentioned that the gel based on the photodimer is rather stable. Our studies indicate that neither the gel phase based on LMWG 1 nor that based on the photodimer can be transformed to the solution by respective UV light irradiation or visible light irradiation/heating.

Switchable fluorescent organogels and mesomorphic superstructure based on naphthalene derivatives

Bisurea-functionalized naphthalene organogelators via cooperative hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking interaction were designed and synthesized. The gelators showed excellent gelling capability in various solvents and performed switchable fluorescence in the gel state. The fluorescent emission of these compounds strongly depends on the aggregation of the fluorophore and is very sensitive to the temperature and chemical stimuli. A stronger and red-shifted emission was found in the gel state compared with the original solution. The gel-sol transition of the systems, as well as the fluorescent emission, is reversibly controlled by a change of the temperature or upon alternative addition of fluoride anions and protons. The influence of fluoride anions on the fluorescence and gel-sol processes is a result of the dissociation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds by bonding of fluoride anions with urea groups of the gelator. The obtained sol is turned to the gel state again upon addition of trifluoroacetic acid. Furthermore, polarizing optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering indicated that the gelator exhibited the liquid crystalline property and displayed the column phase.

Organogels of 8-Quinolinol/Metal(II)–Chelate Derivatives That Show Electron- and Light-Emitting Properties

8-quinolinol/copper(II)-, palladium(II)-, and platinum(II)-chelate-based organogelators (1 M) and their nongelling reference compounds (2 M) were synthesized. Complexes 1 M could gelate various organic solvents at very low concentrations. Electron microscope measurements gave visual images of well-developed fibrous structures characteristic of low-molecular-weight organogels. UV/Vis and FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the good gelation ability of 1 M arises from the pi-pi interactions of the chelate moieties and the hydrogen-bond interactions among the amide groups. Very interestingly, field emission performances of the nanofibers prepared from the 1 M gels are evidently different depending on the electronic states of the three kinds of central metals. In addition, the 1 Pt gel shows unique thermo- and solvatochromism of visible and phosphorescent color in response to a sol-gel phase transition. Furthermore, the 1 Pt gel possesses an attractive ability to inhibit dioxygen quenching of excited triplet states, which increases the phosphorescence quantum yield of this gel. This effect is attributed to the isolation effect of the phosphorescent chelate moiety from the dioxygen-containing solution phase.

A chiral low-molecular-weight gelator based on binaphthalene with two urea moieties: modulation of the CD spectrum after gel formation

The synthesis and characterization of a new chiral LMWG 1 based on the axially chiral binaphthalene with two urea moieties were described. A transparent gel in cyclohexane with LMWG 1 was obtained and characterized by SEM, XRD and CD techniques. The results of 1H NMR measurement indicated that the intermolecular H-bonds and pi-pi interaction may be responsible for the gel formation. It was demonstrated that the gel phase could be destroyed by addition of F- due to the disruption of intermolecular H-bonds. After gel formation, modulation of the CD spectrum of 1 was observed.

Coordination polymer gels: synthesis, structure and mechanical properties of amorphous coordination polymers

The synthesis and mechanical properties of a new class of coordination polymer based materials, amorphous coordination polymer sol-gels and xerogels, is presented.