Dynamic chirality, chirality transfer and aggregation behaviour of dithienylethene switches

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of chiral and achiral low molecular weight organogelators (LMWGs) based on bis-amide substituted dithienylethene photochromic switches is reported. The LMWGs gelate a range of solvents depending on the specific functionalisation of the hydrogen bonding amide groups. In mixtures of chiral and achiral LMWGs the stereochemical outcome of the chiral aggregation is determined by the chiral LMWG molecules in most cases. However, for the first time we demonstrate that the stereochemical outcome of the aggregation can be influenced by the achiral LWMG molecules in some cases. Furthermore specific π–π (and/or van der Waals) interactions of chiral LMWGs with the solvent allow the solvent to influence the control of chirality of aggregation. This influence of the solvent has a dramatic effect on whether four- or two-gel states are available.