Fabrication of resonance core assisted self-assembling gelators derived from cyclohexanone

Three high-resonance core compounds, BHC-6, BHC-11 and BHC-cho, were synthesized. The morphologies of the self-assembled xerogels of the synthesized compounds were studied using SEM and TEM. The molecular interactions and the formation of asymmetric constructions were investigated using temperature-dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectrometry, respectively. The induction of an asymmetric helical structure was further confirmed using TEM. The results show that increasing the resonance length strengthens intermolecular forces, leading to the formation of gels. A chiral environment produces a steric field effect, leading to the formation of asymmetric constructions. The interactions between functional groups were further confirmed using 2D nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy NMR. The reversible E-Z isomerization and dimer formation of cinnamoyl derivatives were investigated using UV-vis and fluorescence spectrometry, relatively.