Geminal Bis-ureas as Gelators for Organic Solvents: Gelation Properties and Structural Studies in Solution and in the Gel State
摘要:
Several geminal bis-urea compounds were synthesised by means of an acid-catalysed condensation of various benzaldehydes with different monoalkylureas. Many of these compounds form thermoreversible gels with a number of organic solvents at very low concentrations (< 3 mM) and which are stable to temperatures higher than 100 degrees C. Electron microscopy revealed a three-dimensional (3D) network of intertwined fibres, which are several tens of micrometers long and have a width ranging from approximately 30 to 300 nm. The possible aggregate forms and aggregate symmetries were evaluated by means of molecular mechanics calculations. H-1 NMR, 2D NMR, C-13 NMR and C-13-CP/MAS NMR techniques were used to obtain information about the aggregation and possible aggregate symmetry of geminal bis-ureas in solution, in the gel state, and in the solid state.
A solvent in which dichloromethane is mixed with alcohol as a poor solvent is used for preparing a dope. Alcohol is supplied to the dope in a inline pipe to mix with a static mixer, such as a casting dope in which a composition of alcohol is increased. The temperature of the rotary drum is adjusted to −7° C. The casting dope is fed from a casting die to the rotary drum so as to form a casting film whose thickness is 40 μm. Since the content of alcohol is high and a storage modulus of the cooled casting film is at least 150 thousands Pa, the peeling defect does not occur, and the stretch is reduced as far as possible. A gel-like film is dried by a tenter type drying device, and stretched such that the stretch ratio is at most 110%. The produced film is thin and excellent in a surface condition and optical isotropy.
Several geminal bis-urea compounds were synthesised by means of an acid-catalysed condensation of various benzaldehydes with different monoalkylureas. Many of these compounds form thermoreversible gels with a number of organic solvents at very low concentrations (< 3 mM) and which are stable to temperatures higher than 100 degrees C. Electron microscopy revealed a three-dimensional (3D) network of intertwined fibres, which are several tens of micrometers long and have a width ranging from approximately 30 to 300 nm. The possible aggregate forms and aggregate symmetries were evaluated by means of molecular mechanics calculations. H-1 NMR, 2D NMR, C-13 NMR and C-13-CP/MAS NMR techniques were used to obtain information about the aggregation and possible aggregate symmetry of geminal bis-ureas in solution, in the gel state, and in the solid state.