Influence of chirality on the modes of self-assembly of 12-hydroxystearic acid in molecular gels of mineral oil

The gelating abilities of enantiopure, racemic, and different enantio-enriched mixtures of 12-hydroxystearic acid (12HSA) have been compared in order to clarify conflicting reports in the literature (1) concerning their ability to gelate organic liquids. Less than 1.0 wt % of optically pure (D)-12HSA was found to gelate mineral oil. The gel matrix was comprised of high aspect ratio fibers in which the 12HSA molecules were organized as head-to-head dimers and the 12-hydroxyl groups formed an H-bonding network along the axis transverse to the longitudinal growth. Below 2 wt %, racemic 12HSA in mineral oil did not reach the percolation threshold. Its organogels were comprised of platelet-like crystals with a molecular arrangement of single, in-plane, hydrogen-bonded acyclic dimers that prevent longitudinal growth and limit the ability of the polar groups to phase separate during nucleation.