Norbornene chaotropic salts as low molecular mass ionic organogelators (LMIOGs).

Phenylalanine functionalised norbornene () functions as a potent, low molecular-mass ( = 333 Da) ionic organogelator with a minimum gelating concentration of 0.5 wt% in THF, -PrOH, 1,4-dioxane and -BuOH. Fibrous crystals form in the gel and X-ray crystallography identified a cation mediated helical assembly process controlled by the chirality of the phenylalanine.