Uncommon hexagonal microtubule based gel from a simple trimesic amide

A small molecule of N,N',N ''-tris(3-methylpyridyl)-trimesic amide was assembled into a novel hexagonal microtube through intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and simultaneously formed a gel system in H2O-THF mixed solvent. Tuning gelator concentration or the preparation method can effectively control the size of the hexagonal tubes.