A ferrocene-based multiple-stimuli responsive organometallogel

Abstract

Three new ferrocene–peptide compounds were designed and prepared. We investigated their gelling abilities and found that two of them were capable of gelling various organic solvents, especially alcohols. Gels also formed in mixed alcohol–water solvents, which decreased the critical gelation concentration (CGC) of the gels. Compound 1, comprised of a dipeptide (Phe-Phe) and ferrocene, acted as a novel low-molecular-weight gelator in the formation of metallogel 1 in isopropanol–water (v/v = 1 : 1). This gelation was found to be reversible under redox stimuli; changing of the redox state of ferrocene induced a reversible gel–sol phase transition. Additionally, gel 1 responded to β-CD as a result of host–guest interactions between this compound and ferrocene. With the addition of β-CD, the gel network gradually broke down, as demonstrated by SEM.