Dibenzylidene-D-sorbitol (DBS) has been a well-known low-molecular-weight gelator of organic solvents for over 100 years. As such, it constitutes a very early example of a supramolecular gel – a research field which has recently developed into one of intense interest. The ability of DBS to self-assemble into sample-spanning networks in numerous solvents is predicated upon its ‘butterfly-like’ structure, whereby the benzylidene groups constitute the ‘wings’ and the sorbitol backbone the ‘body’ – the two parts representing the molecular recognition motifs underpinning its gelation mechanism, with the nature of solvent playing a key role in controlling the precise assembly mode. This gelator has found widespread applications in areas as diverse as personal care products and polymer nucleation/clarification, and has considerable potential in applications such as dental composites, energy technology and liquid crystalline materials. Some derivatives of DBS have also been reported which offer the potential to expand the scope and range of applications of this family of gelators and endow the nansocale network with additional functionality. This review aims to explain current trends in DBS research, and provide insight into how by combining a long history of application, with modern methods of derivatisation and analysis, the future for this family of gelators is bright, with an increasing number of high-tech applications, from environmental remediation to tissue engineering, being within reach.

中文翻译：

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1,3：2,4-二亚苄基d -山梨醇（DBS）和它的衍生物-高效，灵活和有超过100年的历史和美好的未来工业相关的低分子量胶凝剂

二亚苄基-D-山梨糖醇（DBS）一直是100多年来众所周知的有机溶剂低分子量胶凝剂。因此，它构成了超分子凝胶的一个非常早期的例子–最近发展成为一个引起人们极大兴趣的研究领域。DBS在多种溶剂中自组装成跨样品网络的能力取决于其“蝴蝶状”结构，其中亚苄基构成“侧翼”，山梨醇骨架构成“主体”，这两个部分代表了分子识别基元是其胶凝机制的基础，溶剂的性质在控制精确组装模式中起着关键作用。该胶凝剂在个人护理产品和聚合物成核/澄清，并在牙科复合材料，能源技术和液晶材料等应用中具有巨大潜力。还报道了DBS的某些衍生物，它们有可能扩展该系列胶凝剂的应用范围和范围，并赋予Nansocale网络以附加功能。这篇综述旨在解释星展银行研究的当前趋势，并通过结合悠久的应用历史，现代衍生化和分析方法，为这种胶凝剂系列带来光明的前景以及越来越多的高科技，从而深入了解从环境修复到组织工程应用，触手可及。还报道了DBS的某些衍生物，它们有可能扩展该系列胶凝剂的应用范围和范围，并赋予Nansocale网络以附加功能。这篇综述旨在解释DBS研究的当前趋势，并通过结合悠久的应用历史，衍生化和分析的现代方法，为这一凝胶化剂系列的未来带来光明的前景，并提供越来越多的高科技，以提供深刻的见解。从环境修复到组织工程应用，触手可及。还报道了DBS的某些衍生物，它们有可能扩展该系列胶凝剂的应用范围和范围，并赋予Nansocale网络以附加功能。这篇综述旨在解释星展银行研究的当前趋势，并通过结合悠久的应用历史，现代衍生化和分析方法，为这种胶凝剂系列带来光明的前景以及越来越多的高科技，从而深入了解从环境修复到组织工程应用，触手可及。