Design, synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties of 2-(4,5-diphenyl-1-p-aryl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol-based boron complexes

Abstract

New hybrid organic-inorganic boron compounds using an imidazole core have been readily synthesized by a two-step procedure from commercially available simple starting materials. All boron compounds were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, LC-MS, thermogravimetric analysis, cyclic voltammetry and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (for 2a & 2c). The photoluminescence measurements of 2a-2c revealed distinct emission peak maxima located at 378, 379 and 387 nm, respectively. Electroluminescent devices fabricated using these boron compounds (2a-2c) suggest that the boron compounds are capable of transporting electrons. A maximum brightness of 6450 cd m-2 at 12.5 V was realized when compound 2a was used as an electron-transporting material. ? The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015.