Synthesis of two new C2-symmetric chiral amide compounds and investigation of their gelation properties

Gels are non-polar (organogels) or polar (hydrogels) structures in a network of semi-solid formulations with an immobilized external solvent. Gels have different applications in a wide range of fields such as food, medicine, biomaterial, cosmetics and other technologies. In addition to contact lenses in daily life, it is among the most useful systems with its potential applications in the cosmetic industry, hair gels, toothpastes, shampoos and soaps, controlled drug release, sensors, food production, photography, paint removal and tissue engineering. In our study, two new low molecular mass C2-symmetric chiral tetraamide compounds were synthesized from L-isoleucine and used as an organogelator. Gelation properties of these organogelators were investigated with fatty acid ethyl esters having different chain lengths such as ethyl laurate, ethyl myristate, ethyl palmitate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, and with organic solvents such as anisol, xylene, liquid paraffin, toluene, diethylene glycol, 1-decanol, n-dodecane and chloroform. These selected gelation fluids are organic solvents commonly used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. They have been chosen as gelation fluids because of their biocompatibility and their ability to increase the penetration through the skin in drug administration. By determining the minimum gel concentrations (MGC) of the organogelators in the specified liquids, the Tg values, which are the melting temperatures of the gels, were determined and the gelation enthalpy values of ΔHg were found from the Van't Hoff equation. The thermal stability of organogelators synthesized in this way, as well as their gelation abilities and gelation capacities, were determined.