Transformation of Dipeptide-Based Organogels into Chiral Crystals by Cryogenic Treatment

Controlled molecular assembly is an important approach for the synthesis of single-component materials with diverse functions. Unlike traditional heat treatment or solvent modulation, cryogenic treatment at 77 K enabled the tunable transition of a self-assembled diphenylalanine organogel into a hexagonal crystal. Under these conditions, the assembled molecules undergo an internal rearrangement in the solid state to form a well-defined chiral crystal structure. Moreover, these assemblies exhibit enhanced emission. This strategy for the synthesis of single-component supramolecular assemblies can create new functions by manipulating phase transitions.