Supramolecular Synthon Transferability and Gelation by Diprimary Ammonium Monocarboxylate Salts

Earlier studies revealed that primary ammonium dicarboxylate (<b>PAD</b>) salts possessed gelling ability, and many such salts displayed a 1D columnar hydrogen bonded network (observed in primary ammonium monocarboxylate (<b>PAM</b>) salts) on either side of the dicarboxylate end of the anion. In the present study, a new series of diprimary ammonium monocarboxyate (<b>DPAM</b>) salts have been prepared with the aim of achieving supramolecular synthon transferability (the same 1D columnar hydrogen <b>PAM</b> bonded network on either side of the diammonium cation) in these salts. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that, in 47% of the <b>DPAM</b> salts, such supramolecular synthon transferability indeed took place. Some of the <b>DPAM</b> salts also showed gelation ability. The gels were characterized by DSC, rheology, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Structure property correlation using single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction data on a selected gel was also attempted