Synthesis, crystal structures and photo- and electro-luminescence of copper(I) complexes containing electron-transporting diaryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole.

Two mononuclear Cu(I) complexes based on 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazolyl derivative ligand containing electron-transporting 1,3,4-oxadiazole group (L), [Cu(L)(PPh(3))2](BF(4)) and [Cu(L)(DPEphos)](BF(4)), where L = 1-(4-(5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzyl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)benzimidazole and DPEphos = bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether, have been successfully synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structure analyses of the ligand L and the complex [Cu(L)(PPh(3))2](BF(4)) were described. The photophysical properties of the complexes were examined by using UV-vis, photoluminescence spectroscopic analysis. The doped light-emitting devices using the Cu(I) complexes as dopants were fabricated. With no electron transporting layers employed in the devices, yellow electroluminescence from Cu(I) complexes were observed. The devices based on the complex [Cu(L)(DPEphos)](BF4) possess better performance as compared with the devices fabricated by the complex [Cu(L)(PPh(3))2](BF(4)). The devices with the structure of ITO/MoO(3) (2 nm)/NPB (40 nm)/CBP:[Cu(L)(DPEphos)](BF(4)) (8 wt%, 30 nm)/BCP (30 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (150 nm) exhibit a maximum efficiency of 3.04 cd/A and a maximum brightness of 4,758 cd/m(2).