Transcending Lipophilicity: Design of Oxotriphenylhexanoate (OTHO) Hydrogels Decorated With 9,10-Diphenylanthracene Fluorescent Probes via Late-Stage Polarity Swap.

Low molecular weight gels are versatile materials prized for their ease of modification compared to their polymeric counterparts, which facilitate their valorization into task-specific materials. However, such modifications seldom extend beyond mere functionalization, and strategies for transferring privileged gelator scaffolds between hydrophilic and lipophilic environments remain rare. In this work, we present a general approach for the late-stage polarity swap (LSPS) of the lipophilic, highly modular oxotriphenylhexanoate (OTHO) scaffold after functionalization with the fluorescent probe 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA). The compounds obtained were tested for gelation under different conditions, with the resulting hydrogels characterized by oscillatory rheology. SEM images of the xerogels reveal fibrillar assemblies, demonstrating the self-assembling capabilities of OTHOs remain unaffected regardless of medium.