In the past decades, a large number of investigations have been focused on gel formation. However, reports on organometallic compounds with gelation property are limited. Self-assembly of acetamido functionalized   gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes derived from 2-(N-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-1H- imidazol-1yl) acetamide leads to the formation of liquid crystalline gels in DMSO. Infrared spectroscopy studies show clearly that the degree of chain motion in the gel state is smaller than that in the mesophase, yet comparable to that in the solid state. Variable-temperature 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded for the gel of [Au(C16,amide-imy)2][NO3] in d6-DMSO to investigate the molecular aggregation behaviour. Furthermore, using NMR diffusion ordered spectroscopy technique is a new try-out to study the phase transition of gels.  A turning point was found corresponding to a phase transition from gel to solution. Xerogels of gold(I)-NHCs display fibers, oriental lantern-shaped bundles of belts and helical fibers when observed under scanning electron and transmission electron microscopes.

Study on the gel to crystal transition of acetamido functionalized gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.