A Supramolecular\nChemistry Project Focusing on Low-Molecular-Weight\nGelators for Developing Students’ Research Skills

A project is described in which students are engaged\nin a research-oriented\napproach to synthesize the low-molecular-weight gelator (LMWG) 1,3:2,4-dibenzylidene-d-sorbitol (DBS) and its derivates and probe the interactions\nunderpinning gelation using infrared (IR), ultraviolet–visible\n(UV–vis), and fluorescence spectroscopy, comparing their findings\nto literature reports. Students work in groups, planning and risk-assessing\neach aspect of the laboratory work. Groups are expected to attend\nand present at a check-in meeting with the project supervisor to report\nresults and receive advice; groups are also permitted to share results\nto expand their data sets for drawing conclusions. Students report\ntheir results through either (a) a short report followed by a viva\nassessment or (b) a collaboratively written journal article.