Novel C3-symmetrical triphenylbenzene-based organogelators with different linkers between phenyl ring and alkyl chain

A new family of 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene-based organogelators with approximately identical side chain length have been synthesized and fully characterized. The molecular aggregation can be promoted by hydrogen-bonding and van der Waals interaction. The magnitudes of hydrogen bonding interactions between the linkers on the triphenylbenzene cores are qualitatively in the order of –CONHNHCO–, –NHCONH–>–NHCO–>–CONH–>–NHCSNH–, consequently resulting in different gelation behaviors. The sol-gel transitions of gels 3 and 4 in toluene are thermodynamically reversible, while the formations of gels 2 and 5 in dioxane are kinetically controlled. The urea-based gel 2 can selectively recognize F− ion.