Search

An organogelator named N-4-dodecyloxyphenyl-N′-4-((4-nitrophenyl)azophenyl) benzohydrazide ( 1 ) was synthesized and was tested to gel aromatic solvent giving stable gels. SEM images revealed that the xerogels consisted of fibers, within which molecules self-assembled to a layered structure, while fibers entangled to 3D network. Both UV–vis spectra and FT-IR studies showed that the major driving force for the formation of fibers was the intermolecular hydrogen bondings, π–π interactions and the microphase segregation between the rigid-rod core and the flexible chains. The gels exhibited gel–sol transition and color change upon addition of anion (F − and AcO − ) stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two series of dissymmetric hydrazide derivatives containing alkoxyazobenzene with nitro terminal group and octyloxy terminal group, N-4-alkoxyphenyl-N′-4-((4-nitrophenyl)azophenyl) benzohydrazide (Bn-NO2, n indicates the number of carbon atoms) and N-4-octyloxyphenyl-N′-4-((4-octyloxyphenyl)azophenyl) benzohydrazide (B8-B8), were designed and synthesised, and their liquid crystalline properties were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, polarised optical microscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. It was found thatB8-B8with octyloxy terminal chains displayed monolayer smectic C phase, whereasBn-NO2with nitro terminal group displayed SmAdphase, and intermolecular hydrogen bonding was confirmed as the driving force. In addition, the effect of hydrogen bonding, dipole–dipole interactions and steric hindrance effect on the liquid crystalline structures were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]