A low-molecular-weight organogelator derived from (L)-amino acids was designed and synthesized. The (L)-alanine derivatives were determined to be excellent gelators, forming good gels even when smaller amounts were added. Self-molecular aggregates were observed to be helical or sheet-like, and the gels were constructed by forming aggregates by self-molecular recognition.
Bisamidation of oxalyl chloride using four L-alpha-amino acid esters afforded chiral diesters which were reacted with three alpha,omega-diainines under high-pressure conditions (10 kbar) to give macrocyclic tetramides of C-2-symmetry. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.