Mandal, Subhra KantiSeth, PiyaKar, Tanmoy2024-12-302024-12-302024https://doi.org/ 10.1039/d3nj05169bhttp://snggdcg.ndl.gov.in/handle/123456789/1437We report the rational design and synthesis of a new L-DOPA-based low molecular weight gelator where the two phenolic OH groups are protected by tertiary-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) moieties. The gelator showed excellent solvent immobilizing properties in different polar aprotic solvents with minimum gelation concentrations (MGCs) of 0.3–0.5% (w/v). Various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as FESEM, HRTEM, FTIR, XRD, CD and rheology were used to characterize the thermo- reversible supramolecular gels. Interestingly, the protection and deprotection of the TBDMS group was successfully utilized for the detection of fluoride ions visually simply by observing the gel to sol transi-tion. Additionally, F ions could be quantitatively estimated by correlating the gel-degradation times with the fluoride ion concentrations. This is the first ever report where a key biological precursor L-DOPA and TBDMS moieties have been incorporated into the gelator structure for the detection and estimation of F- ions using a visual gel-to-sol phase transition method.enArticle