Sugar-integrated "supergelators" which can form organogels with 0.03-0.05%[g mL(-1)]

It was found that methyl-4,6-O-p-nitrobenzylidene-alpha -D-galactopyranosid e (1) and methyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-alpha -D-mannopyranoside (2), which are scarcely soluble in apolar solvents, act as "supergelators" when they are e nforcedly dissolved above their bp's in a sealed tube. The minimum gelator concentrations (C-min) were 0.03-0.07% [g mL(-1)] which are one of the lowe st concentrations achieved so far. The coupled study of TEM observation wit h partial solvent exchange established that the organogel stability is rela ted to the superstructure in the fibril network constructed in specific sol vents.