Anthanthrene Derivatives as Blue Emitting Materials for Organic Light-Emitting Diode Applications

Photophysical properties of anthanthrene ( 1 ) and its derivatives ( 2 − 11 ) substituted at the 4,10 and/or 6,12 positions (φ F = 0.25−0.56, τ F = 2.93−4.21 ns in CH 2 Cl 2 ) are compared. Solution emission behavior (λ max = 438−482 nm) is similar to that observed in the solid state (λ max = 437−465 nm). The compounds are shown to be efficient and very stable blue emitters, especially in the solid state (φ F = 0.39−0.86). An electroluminescent (EL) device containing 5 as a dopant produced an EL efficiency of 3.0 cd/A with CIE coordinates of 0.13 and 0.25. The luminescence half-life of the device was more than 3500 h with an initial luminescence ∼ 600 cd/m 2 .