Synthesis, photophysical and electroluminescent properties of novel iridium (III) complexes based on 5-methyl-2-phenylbenzo[d]oxazole derivatives

Abstract A new series of phosphorescent iridium (III) complexes based on 5-methyl-2-phenylbenzo[ d ]oxazole derivatives as main ligands, i.e. bis(5-methyl-2- phenylbenzo[ d ]oxazole- N , C 2′ )iridium(acetylacetonate) [(mpbo) 2 Ir(acac)], bis(2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-methylbenzo[ d ]oxazole- N , C 2′ )iridium(acetylacetonate) [(fmbo) 2 Ir(acac)] and bis(5-methyl-2-p-tolylbenzo[ d ]oxazole- N , C 2′ ) iridium(acetylacetonate) [(mtbo) 2 Ir(acac)], were synthesized for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and their photophysical, electroluminescent properties were investigated. All complexes have high thermal stability and emit intense phosphorescence from green to yellow at room temperature with high quantum efficiencies and relatively short lifetimes. The OLED based on (fmbo) 2 Ir(acac) as dopant emitter showed very high luminance of 26,004 cd m −2 and luminance efficiency of 18.5 cd A −1 . The evidences indicated that this series of iridium (III) complexes were potential candidates for applications in organic electroluminescent devices.