A novel small molecular luminescent gelling agent for alcohols

2,3-Bis-n-decyloxyanthracene can form thermoreversible gels with alcohols at very low concentrations; electronic absorption spectra and fluorescence emission studies suggest that the network of the gel consists of head-to-tail assemblies of the aromatic component coexisting with the alcohol, the organization of the system essentially relying upon dipolar forces and van der Waals interactions.