Synthesis, crystal structure, and photoelectric properties of Re(CO)(3)ClL (L = 2-(1-ethylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine).

A novel Re(I) complex, Re(CO)(3)ClL (L = 2-(1-ethylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine), has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data for C(17)H(13)ClN(3)O(3)Re: space group, orthorhombic, Pbca; a = 12.713(6) A; b = 15.103(7) A; c = 18.253(8) A; Z = 8. Stable vacuum vapor deposition of the Re complex has been verified by UV-vis and infrared spectroscopy. A two-layer electroluminescent device with configuration of ITO/TPD/Re(CO)(3)ClL/Mg(0.9)Ag(0.1)/Ag has been fabricated, which gave a turn-on voltage of as low as 3 V and a maximum luminance of 113 cd/m(2) at a bias voltage of 10.5 V, and confirmed that the Re complex can function as a bright orange-red emitter and an electron transport material in an electroluminescent device.