Synthesis of photoresponsive cholesterol-based azobenzene organogels: dependence on different spacer lengths

A series of azobenzene–cholesterol organogel compounds (M(0)–M(12)) with different spacers were designed and synthesized. The molecular structures were confirmed by (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The rapid and reversible photoresponsive properties of the compounds were investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy. Their thermal phase behaviors were studied by DSC. The length of the spacer plays a crucial role in the gelation. Compound M(6) is the only one that can gelate in ethanol, isopropanol and 1-butanol and the reversible gel–sol transitions are also investigated. To obtain visual insight into the microstructure of the gels, the typical structures of the xerogels were studied by SEM. Morphologies of the aggregates change from flower-like, network and rod with different sizes. By using IR and XRD characterization, it is found that intermolecular H-bonding, the solvents and van der Waals interaction are the main contributions to the specific superstructure.