Ether-containing ionic liquids are developed, which are capable of dissolving carbohydrates such as
β-d-glucose, α-cyclodextrin, amylose, agarose, and a glycosylated protein, glucose oxidase. When glycolipids
are dispersed in these sugar-philic ionic liquids, stable bilayer membranes are formed. They display reversible
thermal transformation from fibrous assemblies to vesicles. Physical gelation of ionic liquids occurs by
dissolving amide-group-enriched glycolipids, providing a first example of self-assembling ionogels. The
ability to dissolve carbohydrates in ionic liquids and the formation of bilayer membranes, self-assembling
gels will open new dimensions in ionic liquid research.
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