A multi-component reaction towards the development of highly modular hydrogelators.

Herein we report a multi-component reaction approach for the development of a new class of hydrogelators based on the OxoTriphenylHexanOate (OTHO) backbone. A focused library of OTHOs has been synthesized and their hydrogelation features evaluated. The two most potent hydrogelators were studied by rheology revealing different stiffness, appearances and thixotropic behavior of the gels. The new gelators showcase the versatility of the OTHO backbone as a platform for the design of functionalized hydrogels with tunable gel properties.