Structure–property correlation of benzoyl thiourea derivatives as organogelators

► N-benzoyl-N′-aryl thioureas are powerful organogelators. ► The driving forces of gelation are hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interaction. ► The xerogels have clear fibrous networks and possess lamellar structures. A series of N-benzoyl-N′-aryl thiourea derivatives (1–4) can form stable gels from a variety of organic solvents ranging from protic to aprotic or polar to apolar at concentrations below 5mg/mL. The gelation properties and structures of the resulting gels were investigated by 1H-NMR, FTIR, UV–vis, SEM, and XRD. The gels were anion-responsive and the driving forces for its formation were the hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interaction. The SEM images of the xerogels prepared from the organogels formed in acetonitrile, cyclohexane and acetone showed a network of elongated fibers. The results of XRD suggested that the dry gels had a layer structure.