Synthesis and Characterization of pH Triggered Imine Functional Low Molecular Weight Hydrogel

Abstract

A C-3 symmetric imine functional nonpolymeric low molecular weight gelator is prepared using microwave assisted Schiff base reaction. The synthesized molecule forms a hydrogel at 5 wt% under slightly acidic pH. The material was characterized using an inversion tube test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and FT-IR spectroscopy. Rheological studies show the material forms a strong hydrogel with formation of nanofibrils supported by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). To the best of our knowledge this is the first example of imine based trigonal low molecular weight hydrogelator reported. © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.