Sugar Acetate-based Low Molecular Weight Organogelators

Two novel organogelators that incorporate sugar acetate segments have been identified. One contains a sugar acetate linked directly to an alkyl group, while the second includes an amide linker. We describe the syntheses of both organogelators, as well as their gelation properties in various hydrocarbon liquids. We also use molecular modeling with a generic classical force field and Kohn-Sham density functional theory to provide atomic scale insights and physical justification for gelation mechanisms.