Urea based low molecular weight pseudopeptidic organogelators for the encapsulation and slow release of (R)-limonene.

Low molecular weight compound containing alkylurea fragments attached to the amino end of different miminalistic pseudopeptidic structures have shown to be excellent organogelators in a variety of organic solvents and liquid organic compounds of different nature. The formation of gels in this work is defined through rheological measurements for those cases where G'>G''. Both the topology and the symmetry of the corresponding urea compounds play a role in defining their organogelator behavior. This can also be tuned by the presence of additional supramolecular guests as is the case of suberic acid. They also achieve the gelation of relevant active substances like terpene natural oils and complex mixtures of flavors and fragrances. This provides a simple and mass efficient supramolecular system for the quantitative encapsulation of active substances, without the need of any additional solvent or complex processes, and their consequent controlled release.