A potent triphenylbenzene-based H-bonding donor to assist formation of two-component organogels with stilbazoles

Two-component organogelators based on a discotic H-bonding donor of 1,3,5-tris(4-amidobutanoic acid)phenyl benzene (2), and acceptors of 4-(4-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-4′-stilbazole derivatives were reported. These complexes showed good gelation ability for alcohols, which are known to be unfavorable for H-bonding formation. SEM study revealed that sheet-like network, nanotapes, and nanorods were gained from the self-assembling of the complexes with small difference of the carbon chain length. Based on XRD, IR, temperature-dependent ¹H NMR, and UV-vis absorption investigations, the gel-phase materials were generated from 1D columnar-type packing of complexes facilitated by cooperative H-bonding, π-stacking, and van der Walls interactions.