Unique gelation behavior of pyromellitic diimide-based macrocycle

Abstract

We present the unique crystal structure of the complexes between pyromellitic diimide-based macrocycle and aniline or N-ethylaniline and gelation behavior of 2. In the crystal structure, tetrameric structure of aniline and trimeric structure of N-ethylaniline were observed in the cavity of the macrocycle. Furthermore, we found the gelation of N,N-dimethylaniline when the macrocycle was added to N,N-dimethylaniline. The gelation behavior was observed only for N,N-diemthylaniline, and no other solvent, even in structurally similar solvent such as N,N-methylethylaniline, showed the gelation.