Naphthalene-cholesterol conjugate as simple gelator for selective sensing of CN^– ion

Cholesterol-based Schiff base 1 has been designed and synthesised. The Schiff base 1 forms yellow coloured gel in DMF:H₂O (2:1, v/v) and the gel is anion responsive. Among different anions, the gel phase of 1 is selectively transformed into sol in the presence of CN^– ions and validates its visual sensing. ¹H NMR, FTIR and HRMS spectroscopic techniques were adopted to study the gelation of 1 and its responsive behaviour towards anions.

Cholesterol-based Schiff base 1 has been designed and synthesized. The Schiff base 1 forms yellow colored gel in DMF: H₂O (2:1, v/v) and the gel is anion responsive. Among different anions, the gel phase of 1 is selectively transformed into sol in the presence of CN^- ions and validates its visual sensing.