Novel oligo-9,9'-spirobifluorenes through ortho-linkage as full hydrocarbon host for highly efficient phosphorescent OLEDs.

4-Bromo-9,9'-spirobifluorene is facilely synthesized, and from this precursor, two ortho-linked oligo-9,9'-spirobifluorenes, 44BSF and 24TSF, are constructed. Devices with 24TSF as the full-hydrocarbon host material and Ir(ppy)(3) or (ppq)(2)Ir(acac) as the triplet emitter show maximum external quantum efficiencies of 12.6 and 10.5% for green and red electrophosphorescence, respectively.