Luminescent properties of a di-hydrazone derived from the antituberculosis agent isoniazid: Potentiality as an emitting layer constituent for OLED fabrication

• A compound derived from the antituberculosis drug isoniazid was synthesized.
• Its 1H and 13C NMR spectra are described and fully assigned for the first time.
• Its luminescent properties were investigated.
• OLED devices were constructed with the compound in the emitting layer.
• Best results were obtained at 35% doping, with a luminance of about 35 cd/m2.

Hydrazones constitute a class of compounds presenting azomethine R′R″NNCHR hydrogens, which show diverse properties and a wide range of applications. A hydrazone derived from the antituberculosis drug isoniazid, namely, N,N′-diisonicotinoyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylisophthalaldehyde hydrazone (DMD) was synthesized and chemically characterized. Its luminescent properties were also investigated, as well as the possibility of using this compound as a constituent of the emitting layer for the fabrication of OLEDs. Co-deposited devices were fabricated using the organic molecule BSBF as matrix and DMD as dopant. All the devices presented a broad electroluminescence band, in which it was possible to recognize the DMD emission along with emissions of some of the other organic layers. The best results were obtained with 35% DMD doping, achieving a luminance of about 35 cd/m2.