2,3-Di-n-alkoxyanthraquinones as gelators of organic solvents

Abstract

The gelling ability of a series of dialkoxy-9,10-anthraquinone derivatives has been investigated in a number of organic solvents at different concentrations. The most efficient systems were found to be formed from the 2,3-dialkoxy (OC_nH_2n + 1) derivatives with n = 8–11 (compounds 9–11, 14–15). In ethanol, a gel is formed with 2,3-di-n-decyloxyanthraquinone (11) at a concentration of ca. 10^–2M (0.65 g/100 g) at 30 °C. The gel-to-sol transition temperatures were determined in ethanol, isopropanol and n-heptane as a function of gelling agent concentration. The gel-to-sol transition enthalpies (23–51 kJ mol^–1) were found to be in agreement with recent results obtained for other gel forming systems.