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.