Reversible stabilization of supramolecular gel structures by a covalent bond

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05605
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 35020:Polymer materials-related
• Research Institution: Chubu University
• Principal Investigator: YABUUCHI Kazuhiro 中部大学, 工学部, 准教授 (80389155)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 超分子ゲル / 自己組織化 / 光二量化 / クマリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The photodimerization reaction of coumarin moieties was used to develop photoinduced reinforcement processes for supramolecular gel structures. We synthesized low-molecular-weight gelators based on tartrate and amino acid derivatives, introducing coumarin moieties at their alkyl terminal. The gelation properties of these compounds for common organic solvents and photoresponsive properties of the gels were examined. Both compounds gelate a wide range of organic solvents. UV-irradiation of the gels improves their thermal stability of them due to the formation of covalent linkage in/among the molecular assemblies of the gelator by the photodimerization reaction of the coumarin moiety. We also achieved the isothermal gelation process by mixing solutions of tartrate components with a solution of a commercially available aliphatic amine.

Free Research Field

超分子化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

超分子ゲルは、温度変化によりゲル状態と溶液状態の間を制御できるなどの利点を有し、学術的興味だけでなく産業利用も視野に入れた研究開発が進められている。しかし、低分子化合物が形成する超分子ゲルの機械強度は、網目状の架橋高分子が作るゲルに比べ弱く、指で強くつまむ程度で崩れてしまうものも多いため、応用展開の妨げになる場合がある。本研究の成果は、超分子ゲルの利点を保ちつつ、その弱点である構造の脆弱性を克服するアプローチを提案し、超分子ゲルの新たな機能・用途創出に結び付くものである。