Multistimuli responsive organogels based on a reactive azobenzene gelator

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Organogelators are widely studied for their ability to form soft materials.
• Existing organogelators often lack reactive functionalities for further modification.
• Developing stimuli-responsive and synthetically versatile organogelators is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel azobenzene-based super organogelator.
• To investigate the multi-responsive behavior (temperature, light, shear) of the organogel.
• To explore the impact of a reactive benzoyl chloride group on gel properties and potential for modification.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of an azobenzene-based organogelator incorporating a benzoyl chloride group.
• Preparation of organogel samples in hydrophobic solvents at low concentrations (0.08 wt%).
• Characterization using (1)H NMR, Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and rheological measurements to assess gel formation, disruption, and properties.

Main Results:

• The synthesized organogelator rapidly and reversibly transitioned between gel and solution states in response to temperature, UV light, and shear force.
• Disruption of π-π bonding upon stimuli led to significant decreases in modulus and viscosity.
• The presence of the benzoyl chloride group influenced gel formation and properties, offering a site for subsequent synthetic modifications.

Conclusions:

• A novel, multi-responsive azobenzene-based super organogelator with a reactive benzoyl chloride group has been developed.
• This organogel exhibits rapid and reversible transitions in response to external stimuli, demonstrating significant potential as a soft material.
• The incorporated reactive group allows for facile synthetic modifications, expanding the applicability of organogels in diverse fields.