Two-Component Organogelators Based on Two l-Amino Acids: Effect of Combination of l-Lysine with Various l-Amino Acids on Organogelation Behavior

Abstract

A two-component organogelation system, consisting of Nepsilon-dodecyl-L-lysine esters (amine components) and N-dodecyl-L-amino acids (valine, phenylalanine, alanine, glycine, L-lysine) as acid components, was proposed, and its organogelation properties were investigated. The mixture of amine and acid components produced an organic salt compound through acid-base interactions, and it created a three-dimensional network by entangling self-assembled nanofibers through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions, thus leading to the formation of organogels. The combination of Lys/Phe yielded rigid dodecane gel, and the gelators of Lys/ Lys yielded a thermally stable dodecane gel. The organogelation properties significantly depended on the combination of amine and acid components, and they could be controlled by the selection of suitable components.