A family of low-molecular-weight organogelators based on Nα,Nε-diacyl-L-lysine: effect of alkyl chains on their organogelation behaviour

A family of low-molecular-weight organogelators based on N-alpha,N-epsilon-diacyl-L-lysine was synthesized by acylation of N-epsilon-dodecyl-L-lysine with acyl chlorides through the one-pot synthetic procedure and their organogelation properties were examined. These compounds functioned as an organogelator; especially, L-lysine derivatives possessing the branched alkyl groups are a better organogelation property. The NMR and IR studies demonstrate that the organogelation occurred through hydrogen bonding interactions between the amide groups and between the carboxy groups. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.