A new synthesis strategy for acridine derivatives to constructing novel host for phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes

•It was explored to synthesize derivatives of 9,10-dihydroacridine via the C3 position.•The materials showed high thermal stability and high triplet energy.•Blue & red PHOLED devices exhibited over 10% external quantum efficiencies with low roll-off.

A new intermediate, 3-bromo-9,9-diphenyl-9,10-dihydroacridine, based on 9,10-dihydroacridine was synthesized and thereby a new host material, 2,6-bis(9,9,10-triphenyl-9,10-dihydroacridin-3-yl)pyridine, via the intermediate was designed and prepared. This intermediate directed a meta-derivation and could make the resulted host retain triplet energy of 2.68 eV. Besides, the rigid backbone along with the substituted phenyl rings at C9 position could benefit the thermal and morphological stabilities of host. According to these features arise from the key intermediate, blue and red phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes were fabricated and external quantum efficiencies above 10% were achieved with relative flat roll-off.

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