Technical Field

The present invention relates to compounds based on spirobifluorene and light emitting devices comprising said compounds.

Background Art

Various organic light emitting devices have been under active study and development, particularly those based on electroluminescence (EL) from small organic materials. For such organic devices, the ability to form morphologically stable amorphous films is a key requirement for the development of small materials for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). That is because when a small molecule compound is used as the organic light-emitting material, crystallization usually occurs if the molecule of the compound is too small and its structure is too symmetrical. Therefore, when applied in an organic light- emission layer, the small molecule compound is vulnerable to morphological change such as crystallization, and once the crystal is formed, it yields negative impacts upon the light-emitting nature and service life of the OLED.

Thermal stress during device operation can lead to such phase transitions from the amorphous state to the thermodynamically stable polycrystalline state leading to dramatic degradation of the device. As a result it is crucial to design materials featuring high glass transition temperature (Tg >150°C) in order to stabilize the amorphous state. For improving the stability of devices in order to increase operational lifetime, several host materials have been reported.

Especially, designing materials having a spiro linkage has been a very successful strategy to obtain OLEDs materials with enhanced morphological stability while keeping their electro-optical functionality.

US2006/0141287 discloses light-emitting layers which include a solid organic material containing a mixture of at least two components. The first host component is an organic compound capable of transporting electrical charges and also forms an aggregate. The second component of the mixture is an organic compound capable of transporting electrical charges and, upon mixing with the first host component, is capable of forming a continuous and substantially pin- hole-free layer. In the reference, as the second component, various compounds such as substituted fluorene derivatives, and spirobifluorene derivatives, etc. are used.

US2010/0072887 also discloses light-emitting devices which are made of layers containing organoselenium compounds such as dibenzoselenophene, benzo[b]selenophene, or benzo[c]selenophene derivatives. These

organoselenium compounds may serve as hosts for phosphorescent

organometallic dopants.

In addition to the above patent references, there are several literature references disclosing spirobifluorene compounds. In Advanced Materials ( Weinheim, Germany) (2004), 16( 18), 1624- 1629, hosts based on oligomers of the carbazole and 9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro) building blocks, especially para and meta interconnected oligomers, suitable for efficient color-tunable triplet emission, are investigated in terms of the triplet excited-state properties. In this literature reference, the improvement of hole and electron injection in hosts for blue-, green- and red-light emission is also expected for the oligomer. Further, Chemical Physics Letters (2008), 461(1-3), 9-15 also includes simulation results on a series of spiro-linked oligofluorenes and derivatives.

JP 2010/027681 discloses 3,6-Bis-N-carbazolyl-9,9'spirobifluorene.

However, none of the above-disclosed materials meets all the

requirements necessary for OLED application, particularly suitable energy level for high phosphorescent efficiency (high triplet energy), high morphological stability, while maintaining other electro-optic and processing properties under operational conditions of the device, such as emission color, dimensional stability, etc. Thus, there has been a need to develop new host materials, which are capable of satisfying all of the requirements indicated above.

Summary of invention

Surprisingly, it has been found that a spirobifluorene-based compound substituted by an appropriate substituent as defined in the appended claims exhibits both a good life-time and a good efficiency when it is used in light emitting devices.

In one aspect of the present invention, compounds represented by Formula (I) or (II) are provided as below.

Formula (I)

wherein A is a single bond or a divalent residue of biphenyl, triphenyl,

in each of which one or more hydrogen atoms attached in the carbon atoms may be replaced by a substituent other than hydrogen, wherein Z is any one selected from N, O, S, and SiR, Y is N-R, 0, S or Si(R) ₂ where R is C,. ₂₀ alkyl or aryl, R ¹ and R ² are independently selected from hydrogen and Ci. ₂₀ alkyl;

Xi to X ₄ are independently selected from substituents other than

spirobifluorenyl;

1, p and q are independently selected from integers of from 0 to 4;

m is an integer of from 0 to 3,

Formula (II)

wherein Bi and B ₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, and a heterocyclic group;

r is an integer of from 0 to 3; and

Xi to X ₄ , m, p, and q are as defined in Formula (I), with the proviso that Bi and B ₂ are not hydrogen simultaneously with the exception of 3,6-Bis-N-carbazolyl- 9,9'-spirobifluorene of the formula

The compounds of the present invention can be used in various

applications, including in OLED, photovoltaic cells or organic semiconductor devices. For example, those compounds can act as an efficient host material for phosphorescent emitters in OLED. The present invention also provides a device, . preferably a light emitting device, comprising said compound.

Brief description of drawings

FIG. 1 shows an organic light emitting device having separate electron transport, hole transport, and emissive layers, as well as other layers.

FIG. 2 shows external quantum efficiency versus luminance for the device of Example 2.

FIG. 3 shows the electroluminescence(EL) spectrum for Example 2.

FIG. 4 shows lifetest data (luminescence versus time at L ₀ = 2000 Cd/m ) for the device of Example 2.

Description of embodiments

Designing materials having a spiro linkage has been a very successful strategy to obtain OLEDs materials with enhanced morphological stability while keeping their electro-optical functionality. This concept is based on the idea of connecting two molecular π-systems with equal or different functions (emission, charge transport) via a common sp3 -hybridized atom. In addition to the spiro linkage, in a compound of the present invention, a substituent is introduced in specific positions to control the triplet energy of the present compound.

The present invention provides a host material, which can be represented by Formula (I) or (II).

Formula (I)

wherein A is a single bond or a divalent residue of biphenyl, triphenyl,

in each of which one or more hydrogen atoms attached in the carbon atoms may be replaced by a substituent other than hydrogen, wherein Z is any one selected from N, O, S, and SiR, Y is N-R, O, S or Si(R) ₂ where R is C| _-20 alkyl or aryl, R ¹ and R ² are independently selected from hydrogen and C| _-20 alkyl;

Xi to X4 are independently selected from substituents other than

spirobifluorenyl,

1, p and q are integers of from 0 to 4;

m is an integer of from 0 to 3,

Formula (II)

wherein Bi and B ₂ are independently selected from hydrogen and a heterocyclic group;

r is an integer of from 0 to 3; and

Xi to X- _t , m, p, and q are as defined in Formula (I), with the proviso that B ₍ and B ₂ are not hydrogen simultaneously, with the exception of 3,6-Bis-N-carbazolyl- 9,9'-spirobifluorene of the following formula

Although it is apparent from formula II, it may be expressly mentioned here that XI to X4 when present (i.e. in those cases where at least one of m, p, q and r is not zero) in compounds of formula II are different from Bi and/or B ₂ .

In some embodiments, the compound is represented by Formula (I) and 1, m, p and q are 0. In other embodiments, the compound is represented by Formula (II) and m, r, p and q are 0.

In accordance with the present invention, A, Bi and B ₂ are substituted in meta position of the spirobifluorene ring since the substitution in the meta position should break the conjugation between the spirobifluorene moieties and the rest of the molecule, ensuring a high triplet energy, and the oligomers of meta-substituted spirobifluorene have higher triplet energy compared to para- substituted ones so that the former is more suitable as hosts for blue emitters. Moreover, the presence of the spiro moieties leads to a high glass transition temperature and promotes the formation of morphologically stable amorphous films, which are essential features for hosts in the OLED emissive layer to produce blue or white light.

In a specific aspect of the invention, A is a single bond. In another aspect, Bi is hydrogen and B ₂ is a heterocyclic group. The heterocyclic group can be preferably selected from, but is not limited to, carbazole,

dibenzothiophene, dibenzofurane, acridine, dibenzosilole, and bipyridine each of which is optionally substituted by one or more substituents other than hydrogen. In one specific embodiment, the heterocyclic group is represented by Formula (III).

Formula (III) wherein Y is N-R, O, S, Si(R) ₂ where R is CI -20 alkyl or CI -20 aryl; X ₅ and X ₆ are independently selected from substituents other than hydrogen; and s is an integer of from 0 to 3 and t is an integer of from 0 to 4.

In another embodiment, the heterocyclic group is represented by Formula (IV).

wherein X ₅ and X ₆ are independently selected from substituents other than hydrogen; and s and t are independently selected from integers of from *0 to 4.

In more specific embodiments, the compounds of the present invention are represented by any one of Formulae (V) to (VIII).

In another specific aspect of the present invention, the compounds are represented by any one of the following formulae IX to XIX

The synthesis of the compounds of the present invention can be accomplished by any known method. Generally, according to the embodiments of the present invention, the compounds of Formulae (I) and (II) can be prepared by the following reaction schemes:

Scheme 1.

wherein X is a leaving group such as halogen, preferably bromine atom.

The present invention is directed to a light emitting device comprising the spirobifluorene compounds of Formula (I) or (II) as above and a light emitting compound. Suitable emitting compounds can be selected from those known in the art and hereafter developed including, without limitation, a metal complex represented by Formula (XX) as disclosed in US 2008/238305:

Formula (XX)

The above mentioned metal complexes, in particular iridium complexes, can exhibit a phosphorescent emission in the visible region of the spectrum. In specific embodiments, the emissive compound exhibits a phosphorescent emission in the blue region of the spectrum.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to an OLED comprising the compound of Formula (I) or (II) and a light emitting compound, specifically a metal complex.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to use of the compound of Formula (I) or (II) and a light emitting compound such as metal complexes as defined above in an OLED.

The OLED device generally comprises:

a glass substrate;

a generally transparent anode such as an indium-tin oxide (ITO) anode;

a hole transporting layer (HTL);

an emissive layer (EML);

an electron transporting layer (ETL); and

a generally metallic cathode such as an Al layer. The emissive layer comprises the host material, and also comprises an emissive material (dopant). The emissive material is adapted to emit light when voltage is applied across the device. The emissive material can be a phosphorescent emitter, more specifically an iridium complex such as those represented by Formula (IX) as above. Those layers are well known in the art, as recited in US 2010/0190984, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein for entirety.

If the emissive material is used as a dopant in a host layer comprising the spirobifluorene compound, then it is generally used in an amount of at least 1 wt%, specifically at least 3 wt%, and more specifically at least 5 wt%, with respect to the total weight of the host and the dopant. Further, it is generally used in an amount of at most 30 wt%, specifically at most 25 wt%.

The present invention also relates to a use of the compounds according to the present invention in OLED, photovoltaic cells or organic semiconductor devices. Examples

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to examples and comparative examples. These examples, however, should not in any sense be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention. Further, units are expressed by weight unless otherwise described.

Synthetic Methods

All reactions were realized under inert atmosphere. The boronic esters used were purchased or synthesized following the usual methods. The solvents and reagents were used as received. All products tested in device were sublimed twice.

Synthetic Example 1

3,6-dibromo-fluorenone

This compound was synthesized following the method of Yong Cao et al. (Advanced Materials. (2008), 20, 2359-2364).

3,6-dibromo-spirobifluorene (3,6-Di-Br-SBF)

Br Following the method used hereinafter for the formation of 3- bromospirobifluorene, the dibromo compound was isolated with 48 % yield.

Compound XVI

3 equivalents of the boronic ester of dibenzofurane (17.1 mmol) and 3,6- Di-Br-SBF (5.7 mmol) were solubilized in toluene. The catalyst Pd(PPh ₃ ) ₄ , the Na ₂ C0 ₃ and EtOH were then added and the medium was warmed to reflux for 24 h. After evaporation and usual work-up, a white solid was recovered and a flash chromatography afforded the desired product (yield 60 %).

Synthetic Examples 2-6

3-Bromo-fluorenone

In a three ways flask 60 ml of water were added to 8.9 ml of HC1 (37 % w/w, 2.1 equivalents) and the medium was cooled to 0°C. NaN0 ₂ (1.5 equivalents), dissolved in 50 ml of water, was added dropwise at 0°C. At the end of the addition, 4-amino-2-bromobenzophenone (one equivalent, 15.0 g, 51.6 mmol) solubilized in a mixture of acetone/water (400/230 ml), was added carefully. After 30 minutes at room temperature, the mixture was warmed at 60 °C for 3 hours.

After extraction with methylene chloride and evaporation of the organic phase, a brown solid was recovered (17.4 g) and a flash chromatography was realized. The pure compound was recovered after crystallization with hexane (4.2 g, 32 % yield).

3-bromo-spirobifluorene (3-SBF)

This compound was made in two steps from 3-bromofluorenone. First, 2- bromobiphenyl (1.05 equivalents, 4.0 g, 16.5 mmol) was solubilized in 102 ml of anhydrous diethyl ether (Et ₂ 0). This solution was cooled to -60°C and BuLi (1.16 eq.) was added dropwise. After 10 min at this temperature, a white precipitate appeared which was redissolved when the medium was warmed to room temperature. 3-bromofluorenone was then added and the reaction mixture was let at 45 °C for one night.

After addition of NFLiCl (5% aq., 260 ml) and extraction with Et ₂ 0, 7.0 g of the alcohol was obtained. This solid was solubilized in 141 ml of AcOH and hydrolized by the addition of 78 ml of HCl/dioxane (20 eq.). After evaporation of the solvents, the solid was chromatographied to afford 5.86 g of the target compound (94 % yield).

Dispirobifluorene (Compound V)

3-BrSBF (5.3 g, 14.5 mmol) was solubilized in 125 ml of anhydrous THF at RT. Zn (1.54 eq.) and Et»Ni (1 eq) were added to the reaction and the whole mixture was warmed during 2 h to 65°C. NiBr ₂ (PPh ₃ ) ₂ was then added and the medium was warmed to reflux during 72 h. During the reaction, 0.05 equivalents of nickel catalyst could be added. After 48 h the reaction was stopped and the reaction medium was filtered through silica pad. After flash chromatography, the dimer was recovered with 30 % yield (m = 1.41 g).

3-N-Carbazole-spirobifluorene (Compound IX)

Pd-bis-dibenzylidenacetone Pd(dba) ₂ (catalyst, 4 % mol) and tris-t.-butyl phosphine (P(tBu) ₃ , 0.2 eq) were introduced at room temperature in toluene in a two ways flask. After 15 min under nitrogen, the other reagents (3 Br-SBF (1.9 g, 4.8 mmol), Carbazole (0.84 g, 5.0 mmol) and tBuO Na (1.44 g, 15 mmol)) were introduced and the reaction medium was warmed at 90 °C for 3 hours. After filtration and solvent evaporation, the solid was flash chromatographied to afford 1.7 g of Compound IX (yield 74 %, 3.5 mmol).

3-Dibenzothiophene-spirobifluorene (Compound X)

Compound X was prepared in the identical manner as compound XI below except the boronic ester of dibenzothiophene was used instead of that of dibenzofurane (yield 65 %).

3-(N-tolyl-carbazole)-spirobifluorene (Compound XIV)

To a flask containing N-tolyl-3-boronic ester carbazole (5.3 mmol, 2.1 eq), 3-Br-SBF (1 eq, 2.5 mmol, 1.0 g) and Pd(PPh ₃ ) ₄ (2 % mol, 58 mg), toluene (50 ml), EtOH (10 ml) and 5 equivalents of Na ₂ C0 ₃ aq. 2 M (5 equivalents) was added. After stiring at reflux for 2 days, the reaction was cooled and the product extracted with ether. The organic phases were washed with water and brine. After having been dried over anhydrous MgS0 ₄ and vacuum evaporation of the solvent, the product was recovered by flash chromatography (m = 1.4 g, yield 95 %).

3-dibenzofurane-spirobifluorene (Compound XI)

As for the compound XVI, the boronic ester of dibenzofurane (9.1 mmol) and the 3-Br-SBF (5.7 mmol) were solubilized in toluene. The catalyst

Pd(PPh ₃ ) ₄ , the Na ₂ C0 ₃ and EtOH were then added and the medium was warmed to reflux for 20 h. After evaporation and usual work-up, 4.5 g of solid was recovered and a chromatography afforded 1.56 g of the pure product (yield 54 %).

Characterization of spirobifluorene compounds of the present invention

All device examples were fabricated by high vacuum thermal

evaporation, except for the hole injecting layer, which was deposited by spin- coating technique. The anode electrode was 120 nm of indium tin oxide (ITO). The cathode consisted of 1 nm of LiF followed by 100 nm of Al. All devices were encapsulated with a glass lid sealed with an epoxy resin in a nitrogen glovebox (<1 ppm of H ₂ 0 and 0 ₂ ) immediately after fabrication, and a moisture getter was incorporated inside the package. The devices were characterized optically and electrically with a C9920-12 External Quantum Efficiency

Measurement System from HAMAMATSU. EQE refers to external quantum efficiency expressed in %, PE refers to power efficiency expressed in lm/W, while CIE refers to the 1931 Commission Internationale de PEclairage (CIE) coordinates. Lifetime tests were done by driving the devices at continuous current at room temperature. LT50 is a measure of lifetime and corresponds to the time for light output to decrease by 50% of the initial value, when the device is driven at a constant current.

The organic stack of Examples 1 and 2 consisted of sequentially, from the ITO surface, 60nm of Plexcore OC AQ-1 100 (supplied from Plextronics Inc.) deposited by spin coating and dried on a hot plate at 200 °C for 10 min, 30 nm of N,N'-Bis(naphthalen-l-yl)-N,N'-bis(phenyl)-benzidine (D-NPD) as the hole transporting layer (HTL), 30nm of compound V or compound IX doped with 9, 12.5 or 15% of mc3 (Ir- complex of formula 20) as the emissive layer (EML), 5nm of 3,3'-di(9H-carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl (mCBP) as the blocking layer (BL), and 40 nm of Bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolate)-4-(phenylphenolato)aluminium (BAlq) as the electron transporting layer (ETL).

Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were fabricated similarly to Examples 1 and 2, except that DCzT was used as host material and blocking layer in

Comparative Example 1 , together with Tris(8-hydroxy-quinolinato)aluminium (Alq3) as ETL; while mCBP was used as host material in Comparative

Example 2.

The device structures are summarized in Table 1 while Table 2 shows the corresponding measured results for those devices. Percentages are in wt%. As used herein, DCzT, mCBP, compound V and compound IX have the following structures:

DCzT mCBP

Table 1.

As shown in Table 2, the host materials of the invention demonstrated efficiency and lifetime that were better than the comparative examples. In particular, at an initial luminance of 1000 Cd/m ² , the results for the lifetimes of the devices show that devices with incorporated the host materials of the present invention had at least a 20% improvement compared to the Comparative Examples. Table 2.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers the modifications and variations of this invention, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.