Novel dipyrazolopyridine derivatives as deep blue emitters for polymer based organic light emitting diodes

Paper reports synthesis and spectroscopic properties of four newly synthesized dipyrazolo[3,4-b; 3′,4′-e]pyridine (DPP) derivatives. The spectroscopic studies are supplemented by quantum-chemical calculations using DFT/TDDFT/PCM method at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. The optical absorption and fluorescence emission processes appear to be weakly dependent on attached side phenyl and/or methyl groups exhibiting in cyclohexane solution the first absorption band (00′ transition) in the region of 386–401 nm and the fluorescence band (0′0 transition) in the range of 412–425 nm. The electroluminescence devices (OLEDs) with an active PVK layer doped by DPP dyes have been designed. All the devices exhibit deep blue electroluminescence with the emission maximum being rather weakly dependent on the type of the fluorescent dopant. The obtained results demonstrate that a series of newly synthesized DPP dyes may be considered as perspective blue fluorescent emitters for electroluminescent applications.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Paper reports synthesis of four novel dipyrazolopyridine (DPP) derivatives. ► Optical absorption and fluorescence spectra of DPP dyes in cyclohexane are explored. ► Excitation spectra of DPP are explored by DFT/TDDFT/PCM [B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)] method. ► Electroluminescent devices of structure ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK:DPP/Ca/Al are designed. ► DPP dyes may be considered as deep blue fluorescence emitters for OLED applications.