Synthesis, characterization and nano-particles synthesis using a simple two component supramolecular gelator: A step towards plausible mechanism of hydrogelation

Melamine-based mono carboxylate salts of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids are synthesized and characterized for gelation behaviour towards various solvents including water. Salts 1a (melaminium hydrogen maleate) and 1e (melaminium hydrogen adipate) were found to be outstanding hydrogelators. The packing of gelator molecule 1a in gel and dried state was probed by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction studies. Single crystal X-ray study of gelator molecule with and without its gelling solvent suggested that supramolecular assemblies leading to a porous network may be one of the prerequisites for molecules to show immobilization of water. An application of two-component gelator1a as a template for silver nano-particle synthesis was demonstrated.

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► Design, synthesis and characterization of new class of hydrogelators.
► Structure–property relations between gelator and non-gelator molecules.
► Single crystal X-ray structure of gelator molecule without gelling solvent.
► An insight into a probable mechanism of small molecule hydrogelation.
► Synthesis of silver nano-particles using newly synthesized hydrogelator as template.