Gelation Landscape Engineering Using a Multi-Reaction Supramolecular Hydrogelator System

Simultaneous control of the kinetics and thermo­dynamics of two different types of covalent chemistry allows pathway selectivity in the formation of hydro­gelating molecules from a complex reaction network. This can lead to a range of hydrogel materials with vastly different properties, starting from a set of simple starting compounds and reaction conditions. Chemical reaction between a tri­aldehyde and the tuberculosis drug iso­niazid can form one, two, or three hydrazone connectivity products, meaning kinetic gelation pathways can be addressed. Simultaneously, thermo­dynamics control the formation of either a keto or an enol tautomer of the products, again resulting in vastly different materials. Overall, this shows that careful navigation of a reaction landscape using both kinetic and thermo­dynamic selectivity can be used to control material selection from a complex reaction network.