Easy preparation and prominent gelation of new gelator based on L-lysine

A new prominent gelator 1, N-epsilon-lauroyl-N-alpha-stearylamino-carbonyl-L-lysine ethyl ester was effortlessly prepared by esterification of N-epsilon-lauroyl-L-lysine and addition of n-octadecyl iso cyanate in a total yield of 89%. Gelator 1 was capable of gelling up a wide variety of organic fluids. A comparison of the gelation ability of structurally related compounds clarified that not only the introduction of long-chain alkyl but also more importantly the ureylene segment connecting the alpha-amino group and the alkyl chain are required for effective gelation.