The synthesis and photophysical properties of novel triphenylamine derivatives containing α, β-diarylacrylonitrile

α, β-Diarylacrylonitrile halides were prepared by condensation of appropriate arylaldehydes and arylacetonitrile halides using a catalytic amount of NaOCH3 at room temperature. The diarylamines were reacted with various α, β-diarylacrylonitrile halides to afford several triphenylamine compounds, which displayed efficient hole transportation in the presence of Pd(OAc)2/P(o-tolyl)3 catalyst, thereby constituting organic light emitting device materials. The novel triphenylamine derivatives were characterized using FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS and elemental analysis. The UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra of the compounds were investigated. The lowest absorption band of α, β-diarylacrylonitrile-containing, triphenylamine derivatives, which occurred at ∼400 nm, was assigned to charge-transfer transitions with an emission at 500–574 nm in different solutions and in the solid state.