Aryl Trihydroxyborate Salts: Thermally Unstable Species with Unusual Gelation Abilities

A series of aryl trihydroxyborate salts were synthesized and found to form gels in benzene. The compounds were thermally unstable and readily underwent protodeboronation in solution and the solid state. Gelation could be induced without decomposition via sonication. Subsequent characterization studies revealed an unusual dependence of gel properties on alkyl chain length.