Dual responsive fluorescence switching of organohydrogel towards base/acid

Abstract

Herein, we have synthesized an ESIPT inbuilt novel tripodal gelator TH-AIL, which upon dissolution in DMSO followed by the addition of water (1 : 1) leads to the formation of a unique orange fluorescent organohydrogel (0.35% w/v, OHG). The obtained OHG reveals responses towards base NH₃ and acid HCl by way of reversible change in fluorescence colour from orange to green along with restorable conversion from gel to sol phase.