Issue 10, 2010

Anion-tuned supramolecular gels: a natural evolution from urea supramolecular chemistry

Abstract

This tutorial review looks at the formation of low molecular weight gels from molecular principles using the well-explored supramolecular chemistry of ureas as an example. Synthesising lessons learned from classical urea inclusion chemistry, ureas in crystal engineering, ureas in self-assembly, urea functional groups in anion binding and sensing, and ureas as organocatalysts lead to the development and understanding of a new class of anion-tunable, urea-based soft materials. This review concludes with a look at emerging application areas for tunable gel-phase materials as controlled crystal growth media, both in templating metallic nanoparticles and in the growth and isolation of high quality crystals of molecular organic compounds, including polymorphic pharmaceuticals.

Graphical abstract: Anion-tuned supramolecular gels: a natural evolution from urea supramolecular chemistry

Article information

Article type
Tutorial Review
Submitted
29 Mar 2010
First published
26 Aug 2010

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010,39, 3686-3699

Anion-tuned supramolecular gels: a natural evolution from urea supramolecular chemistry

J. W. Steed, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3686 DOI: 10.1039/B926219A

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