Three substituted benzoic acids containing long chain alkyl with different number were prepared. Their gelation properties were evaluated in 14 solvents. It is revealed that the number of long-chain alkyl plays a crucial role in the gelation behaviors of the compounds. In terms of the number of solvents gelled by the tested three compounds, A1 with one long chain alkyl and A3 with three long chain alkyls were more versatile gelators than A2 with two long chain alkyls. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to investigate the effect of structures and concentrations of gelators on morphologies of gels. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that the aggregate of A1 from its cyclohexane gel took a mixture of hexagonal and tetragonal packing modes, and a possible structure evolution process for the gel of A1/cyclohexane was proposed.

low-molecular-mass gelators; substituted benzoic acid; long chain alkyl; self assembly