Hydrazinoazadipeptides as aromatic solvent gelators

In the presence of a small amount of HCl, hydrazinoazadipeptides form thermoreversible physical gels with aromatic solvents. These gels are stable to 70–90°C, and can be stored for months. Electron microscopy reveals that in these solvents, pseudopeptides self-assemble into elongated and very thin fibers, which in turn form a three-dimensional network that traps solvent molecules. Infrared studies showed that aggregation is accompanied by the formation of a hydrogen-bonded network between NH and CO of the hydrazinopeptides.