One-step-synthesizedd-gluconic acetal-based supramolecular organogelators with effective phase-selective gelation

Two effective and one-step-synthesized organogelators based ond-gluconic acetal derivatives have been developed to show phase-selective gelation behaviours towards aromatic solvents from their biphasic mixtures with water. The dominant factors that drive gelation have been studied using FT-IR and temperature-dependent(1)H NMR spectroscopy. Particularly, gelatorGAA-2in powder form could selectively congeal toluene, benzene ando-xylene at room temperature under mild stirring. Additionally,GAA-2could gelate the aromatic solvents within 10 min and the recovery rate of the aromatic solvents could reach about 82% under a certain condition. The benefits of wide source availability, being easy to synthesize, and recyclable performance of the gelator makeGAA-2ideal for real-world remediation of aromatic solvents.