Functional organogels from lipophilic L-glutamide derivative immobilized on cyclotriphosphazene core

A novel cyclotriphosphazene-based low-molecular weight organogelator was prepared by immobilization of six dialkylated L-glutamide derivatives on a cyclotriphosphazene core, and its ability as a self-assembling organogelator was investigated. The organogelator exhibited enhanced gelation ability and chirality, and thixotropic property for self-restoring to a gel state; this was compared to the corresponding L-glutamide-derived organogelator without the core. The gelation test, transmission electron microscopy observation, and circular dichroism (CD) spectral study showed that the gelation and aggregation ability were enhanced by immobilization onto the cyclotriphosphazene core. Gels in chloroform and cyclohexane-ethanol (95:5) mixture showed an unusual thixotropic property.