A supramolecular gel based on an adenine symmetrically grafted Anderson-type polyoxometalate complex

An Anderson-type polyoxometalate was covalently decorated by using adenine on both sides. Through cation substitution, we obtained a new hybrid building block with long alkyl chains for supramolecular gels. According to the synergetic effect of hydrogen bonding of inter adenine units and van der Waals interaction of side alkyl chains, the DODA₃A-MnMo₆-A] gelator can stabilize solvent and self-assemble into fibrous structure, forming supramolecular gel. In addition, the reversible sol-gel transformation was achieved by controlling environmental temperature. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the gel morphology and structure. As a result, we proposed the possible mechanism of gel formation and sol-gel transformation.