Amphiphiles based on D-glucose: efficient low molecular weight gelators.

A series of novel amphiphiles were synthesized based entirely on renewable resources. Besides their efficacy as supramolecular gelators in a wide variety of organic solvents and also water, their surface properties as surfactants and emulsifiers have been determined. A methodical study revealed that the length of the hydrocarbon chains has a dramatic and decisive influence on the thermal stabilities of the obtained hydrogels.