In Search of Deeper Blues: Trans-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Platinum Phenylacetylide as a Dopant for Phosphorescent OLEDs

A trans-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) platinum(II) acetylide complex bearing phenyl acetylene ligands (NPtPE1) has been synthesized via the Hagihara reaction in 64% yield. The complex features spectrally narrow deep blue emission with a phosphorescence quantum yield (0.30) and lifetime (∼10 μs) in the solid state. The modest quantum yield and lifetime make NPtPE1 a candidate for incorporation into an organic light emitting diode (OLED). Prototype devices exhibited a maximum EQE of 8% with CIE (0.20,0.20). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a platinum(II) acetylide bearing NHC ligands to be incorporated into an OLED.