Chloroalkane gel formations by tris-urea low molecular weight gelator under various conditions

C3-symmetrical tris-urea low molecular weight gelator 1 was synthesized in three steps from phloroglucin. The gelation ability of 1 in four chloroalkanes, i.e., CH2Cl2, CHCl3, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, was investigated under various conditions. Thermal treatment was effective in gelating 1,1,2-trichloroethane. In the presence of equimolar 1 and CuBr2, 1,1,2-trichloroethane and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane formed gels. Mixtures of 1 and CHCl3 or 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane gave gels after ultrasound irradiation. CH2Cl2 changed into a gel in the presence of equimolar 1 and BiCl3 after sonication. Spherical particles with rough surfaces were found by SEM observation of CHCl3 gel prepared from ultrasound irradiation of 1 and Y(NO3)3.