Organic electroluminescent materials and devices

Abstract

Novel ligands for metal complexes containing five-membered ring fused on pyridine or pyrimidine ring combined with partially fluorinated side chains exhibiting improved external quantum efficiency and lifetime are disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional U.S. patent application claiming priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1), to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/161,948, filed on May 15, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

The claimed invention was made by, on behalf of, and/or in connection with one or more of the following parties to a joint university corporation research agreement: The Regents of the University of Michigan. Princeton University, University of Southern California, and the Universal Display Corporation. The agreement was in effect on and before the date the claimed invention was made, and the claimed invention was made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of the agreement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds for use as emitters, and devices, such as organic light emitting diodes, including the same.

BACKGROUND

Opto-electronic devices that make use of organic materials are becoming increasingly desirable for a number of reasons. Many of the materials used to make such devices are relatively inexpensive, so organic opto-electronic devices have the potential for cost advantages over inorganic devices. In addition, the inherent properties of organic materials, such as their flexibility, may make them well suited for particular applications such as fabrication on a flexible substrate. Examples of organic opto-electronic devices include organic light emitting diodes/devices (OLEDs), organic phototransistors, organic photovoltaic cells, and organic photodetectors. For OLEDs, the organic materials may have performance advantages over conventional materials. For example, the wavelength at which an organic emissive layer emits light may generally be readily tuned with appropriate dopants.

OLEDs make use of thin organic films that emit light when voltage is applied across the device. OLEDs are becoming an increasingly interesting technology for use in applications such as flat panel displays, illumination, and backlighting. Several OLED materials and configurations are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,844,363, 6,303,238, and 5,707,745, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

One application for phosphorescent emissive molecules is a full color display. Industry standards for such a display call for pixels adapted to emit particular colors, referred to as “saturated” colors. In particular, these standards call for saturated red, green, and blue pixels. Alternatively the OLED can be designed to emit white light. In conventional liquid crystal displays emission from a white backlight is filtered using absorption filters to produce red, green and blue emission. The same technique can also be used with OLEDs. The white OLED can be either a single EML device or a stack structure. Color may be measured using CIE coordinates, which are well known to the art.

One example of a green emissive molecule is tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium, denoted Ir(ppy)₃, which has the following structure:

##STR00001##

In this, and later figures herein, we depict the dative bond from nitrogen to metal (here, Ir) as a straight line.

As used herein, the term “organic” includes polymeric materials as well as small molecule organic materials that may be used to fabricate organic opto-electronic devices. “Small molecule” refers to any organic material that is not a polymer, and “small molecules” may actually be quite large. Small molecules may include repeat units in some circumstances. For example, using a long chain alkyl group as a substituent does not remove a molecule from the “small molecule” class. Small molecules may also be incorporated into polymers, for example as a pendent group on a polymer backbone or as a part of the backbone. Small molecules may also serve as the core moiety of a dendrimer, which consists of a series of chemical shells built on the core moiety. The core moiety of a dendrimer may be a fluorescent or phosphorescent small molecule emitter. A dendrimer may be a “small molecule,” and it is believed that all dendrimers currently used in the field of OLEDs are small molecules.

As used herein, “top” means furthest away from the substrate, while “bottom” means closest to the substrate. Where a first layer is described as “disposed over” a second layer, the first layer is disposed further away from substrate. There may be other layers between the first and second layer, unless it is specified that the first layer is “in contact with” the second layer. For example, a cathode may be described as “disposed over” an anode, even though there are various organic layers in between.

As used herein, “solution processible” means capable of being dissolved, dispersed, or transported in and/or deposited from a liquid medium, either in solution or suspension form.

A ligand may be referred to as “photoactive” when it is believed that the ligand directly contributes to the photoactive properties of an emissive material. A ligand may be referred to as “ancillary” when it is believed that the ligand does not contribute to the photoactive properties of an emissive material, although an ancillary ligand may alter the properties of a photoactive ligand.

As used herein, and as would be generally understood by one skilled in the art, a first “Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital” (HOMO) or “Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital” (LUMO) energy level is “greater than” or “higher than” a second HOMO or LUMO energy level if the first energy level is closer to the vacuum energy level. Since ionization potentials (IP) are measured as a negative energy relative to a vacuum level, a higher HOMO energy level corresponds to an IP having a smaller absolute value (an IP that is less negative). Similarly, a higher LUMO energy level corresponds to an electron affinity (EA) having a smaller absolute value (an EA that is less negative). On a conventional energy level diagram, with the vacuum level at the top, the LUMO energy level of a material is higher than the HOMO energy level of the same material. A “higher” HOMO or LUMO energy level appears closer to the top of such a diagram than a “lower” HOMO or LUMO energy level.

As used herein, and as would be generally understood by one skilled in the art, a first work function is “greater than” or “higher than” a second work function if the first work function has a higher absolute value. Because work functions are generally measured as negative numbers relative to vacuum level, this means that a “higher” work function is more negative. On a conventional energy level diagram, with the vacuum level at the top, a “higher” work function is illustrated as further away from the vacuum level in the downward direction. Thus, the definitions of HOMO and LUMO energy levels follow a different convention than work functions.

More details on OLEDs, and the definitions described above, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a compound comprising a ligand L_A of Formula I,

##STR00002##

wherein ring A is a 5-membered or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring;

wherein R is fused to ring B and has a structure of Formula II:

##STR00003##

wherein the wave lines indicate bonds to ring B;

wherein R¹ represents mono, di, tri, or tetra substitution, or no substitution;

wherein R² represents mono or di substitution, or no substitution;

wherein X¹, X², X³, and X⁴ are each independently carbon or nitrogen;

wherein at least two adjacent of X¹, X², X³, and X⁴ are carbon and fuse to R;

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of BR′, NR′, PR′, O, S, Se, C═O, S═O, SO₂, CR′R″, SiR′R″, and GeR′R″; wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R′, and R″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acid, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof; and wherein any two adjacent substituents are optionally joined to form into a ring;

wherein at least one of R³ and R⁴ comprises a chemical group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, partially fluorinated alkyl, partially fluorinated cycloalkyl, and combinations thereof;

wherein the ligand L_A is coordinated to a metal M;

wherein the ligand L_A is optionally linked with other ligands to comprise a tridentate, tetradentate, pentadentate, or hexadentate ligand; and

wherein M is optionally coordinated to other ligands is disclosed.

According to some embodiments, a first OLED comprising an anode, a cathode, and an organic layer, disposed between the anode and the cathode, comprising a compound comprising a ligand L_A of Formula I is disclosed.

According to some embodiments, a formulation comprising a compound comprising a ligand L_A of Formula I is also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an organic light emitting device.

FIG. 2 shows an inverted organic light emitting device that does not have a separate electron transport layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, an OLED comprises at least one organic layer disposed between and electrically connected to an anode and a cathode. When a current is applied, the anode injects holes and the cathode injects electrons into the organic layer(s). The injected holes and electrons each migrate toward the oppositely charged electrode. When an electron and hole localize on the same molecule, an “exciton,” which is a localized electron-hole pair having an excited energy state, is formed. Light is emitted when the exciton relaxes via a photoemissive mechanism. In some cases, the exciton may be localized on an excimer or an exciplex. Non-radiative mechanisms, such as thermal relaxation, may also occur, but are generally considered undesirable.

The initial OLEDs used emissive molecules that emitted light from their singlet states (“fluorescence”) as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,292, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Fluorescent emission generally occurs in a time frame of less than 10 nanoseconds.

More recently. OLEDs having emissive materials that emit light from triplet states (“phosphorescence”) have been demonstrated. Baldo et al., “Highly Efficient Phosphorescent Emission from Organic Electroluminescent Devices,” Nature, vol. 395, 151-154, 1998; (“Baldo-I”) and Baldo et al., “Very high-efficiency green organic light-emitting devices based on electrophosphorescence.” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 75, No. 3, 4-6 (1999) (“Baldo-II”), are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Phosphorescence is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704 at cols. 5-6, which are incorporated by reference.

FIG. 1 shows an organic light emitting device 100. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Device 100 may include a substrate 110, an anode 115, a hole injection layer 120, a hole transport layer 125, an electron blocking layer 130, an emissive layer 135, a hole blocking layer 140, an electron transport layer 145, an electron injection layer 150, a protective layer 155, a cathode 160, and a barrier layer 170. Cathode 160 is a compound cathode having a first conductive layer 162 and a second conductive layer 164. Device 100 may be fabricated by depositing the layers described, in order. The properties and functions of these various layers, as well as example materials, are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704 at cols. 6-10, which are incorporated by reference.

More examples for each of these layers are available. For example, a flexible and transparent substrate-anode combination is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,363, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. An example of a p-doped hole transport layer is m-MTDATA doped with F₄-TCNQ at a molar ratio of 50:1, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0230980, which is incorporated by reference in its entirely. Examples of emissive and host materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,238 to Thompson et al., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. An example of an n-doped electron transport layer is BPhen doped with Li at a molar ratio of 1:1, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0230980, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,703,436 and 5,707,745, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties, disclose examples of cathodes including compound cathodes having a thin layer of metal such as Mg:Ag with an overlying transparent, electrically-conductive, sputter-deposited ITO layer. The theory and use of blocking layers is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,147 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0230980, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Examples of injection layers are provided in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0174116, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. A description of protective layers may be found in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0174116, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 2 shows an inverted OLED 200. The device includes a substrate 210, a cathode 215, an emissive layer 220, a hole transport layer 225, and an anode 230. Device 200 may be fabricated by depositing the layers described, in order. Because the most common OLED configuration has a cathode disposed over the anode, and device 200 has cathode 215 disposed under anode 230, device 200 may be referred to as an “inverted” OLED. Materials similar to those described with respect to device 100 may be used in the corresponding layers of device 200. FIG. 2 provides one example of how some layers may be omitted from the structure of device 100.

The simple layered structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided by way of non-limiting example, and it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be used in connection with a wide variety of other structures. The specific materials and structures described are exemplary in nature, and other materials and structures may be used. Functional OLEDs may be achieved by combining the various layers described in different ways, or layers may be omitted entirely, based on design, performance, and cost factors. Other layers not specifically described may also be included. Materials other than those specifically described may be used. Although many of the examples provided herein describe various layers as comprising a single material, it is understood that combinations of materials, such as a mixture of host and dopant, or more generally a mixture, may be used. Also, the layers may have various sublayers. The names given to the various layers herein are not intended to be strictly limiting. For example, in device 200, hole transport layer 225 transports holes and injects holes into emissive layer 220, and may be described as a hole transport layer or a hole injection layer. In one embodiment, an OLED may be described as having an “organic layer” disposed between a cathode and an anode. This organic layer may comprise a single layer, or may further comprise multiple layers of different organic materials as described, for example, with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Structures and materials not specifically described may also be used, such as OLEDs comprised of polymeric materials (PLEDs) such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,190 to Friend et al., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. By way of further example, OLEDs having a single organic layer may be used. OLEDs may be stacked, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,745 to Forrest et al. which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The OLED structure may deviate from the simple layered structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the substrate may include an angled reflective surface to improve out-coupling, such as a mesa structure as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,195 to Forrest et al., and/or a pit structure as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,893 to Bulovic et al., which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Unless otherwise specified, any of the layers of the various embodiments may be deposited by any suitable method. For the organic layers, preferred methods include thermal evaporation, ink-jet, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,013,982 and 6,087,196, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties, organic vapor phase deposition (OVPD), such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,102 to Forrest et al., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, and deposition by organic vapor jet printing (OVJP), such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,968, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other suitable deposition methods include spin coating and other solution based processes. Solution based processes are preferably carried out in nitrogen or an inert atmosphere. For the other layers, preferred methods include thermal evaporation. Preferred patterning methods include deposition through a mask, cold welding such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,398 and 6,468,819, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties, and patterning associated with some of the deposition methods such as ink jet and OVJD. Other methods may also be used. The materials to be deposited may be modified to make them compatible with a particular deposition method. For example, substituents such as alkyl and aryl groups, branched or unbranched, and preferably containing at least 3 carbons, may be used in small molecules to enhance their ability to undergo solution processing. Substituents having 20 carbons or more may be used, and 3-20 carbons is a preferred range. Materials with asymmetric structures may have better solution processability than those having symmetric structures, because asymmetric materials may have a lower tendency to recrystallize. Dendrimer substituents may be used to enhance the ability of small molecules to undergo solution processing.

Devices fabricated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may further optionally comprise a barrier layer. One purpose of the barrier layer is to protect the electrodes and organic layers from damaging exposure to harmful species in the environment including moisture, vapor and/or gases, etc. The barrier layer may be deposited over, under or next to a substrate, an electrode, or over any other parts of a device including an edge. The barrier layer may comprise a single layer, or multiple layers. The barrier layer may be formed by various known chemical vapor deposition techniques and may include compositions having a single phase as well as compositions having multiple phases. Any suitable material or combination of materials may be used for the barrier layer. The barrier layer may incorporate an inorganic or an organic compound or both. The preferred barrier layer comprises a mixture of a polymeric material and a non-polymeric material as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,968,146. PCT Pat. Application Nos. PCT/US2007/023098 and PCT/US2009/042829, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. To be considered a “mixture”, the aforesaid polymeric and non-polymeric materials comprising the barrier layer should be deposited under the same reaction conditions and/or at the same time. The weight ratio of polymeric to non-polymeric material may be in the range of 95:5 to 5:95. The polymeric material and the non-polymeric material may be created from the same precursor material. In one example, the mixture of a polymeric material and a non-polymeric material consists essentially of polymeric silicon and inorganic silicon.

Devices fabricated in accordance with embodiments of the invention can be incorporated into a wide variety of electronic component modules (or units) that can be incorporated into a variety of electronic products or intermediate components. Examples of such electronic products or intermediate components include display screens, lighting devices such as discrete light source devices or lighting panels, etc. that can be utilized by the end-user product manufacturers. Such electronic component modules can optionally include the driving electronics and/or power source(s). Devices fabricated in accordance with embodiments of the invention can be incorporated into a wide variety of consumer products that have one or more of the electronic component modules (or units) incorporated therein. Such consumer products would include any kind of products that include one or more light source(s) and/or one or more of some type of visual displays. Some examples of such consumer products include flat panel displays, computer monitors, medical monitors, televisions, billboards, lights for interior or exterior illumination and/or signaling, heads-up displays, fully or partially transparent displays, flexible displays, laser printers, telephones, cell phones, tablets, phablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), wearable device, laptop computers, digital cameras, camcorders, viewfinders, micro-displays, 3-D displays, vehicles, a large area wall, theater or stadium screen, or a sign. Various control mechanisms may be used to control devices fabricated in accordance with the present invention, including passive matrix and active matrix. Many of the devices are intended for use in a temperature range comfortable to humans, such as 18 degrees C. to 30 degrees C., and more preferably at room temperature (20-25 degrees C.), but could be used outside this temperature range, for example, from −40 degree C. to +80 degree C.

The materials and structures described herein may have applications in devices other than OLEDs. For example, other optoelectronic devices such as organic solar cells and organic photodetectors may employ the materials and structures. More generally, organic devices, such as organic transistors, may employ the materials and structures.

The term “halo,” “halogen,” or “halide” as used herein includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

The term “alkyl” as used herein contemplates both straight and branched chain alkyl radicals. Preferred alkyl groups are those containing from one to fifteen carbon atoms and includes methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, and the like. Additionally, the alkyl group may be optionally substituted.

The term “cycloalkyl” as used herein contemplates cyclic alkyl radicals. Preferred cycloalkyl groups are those containing 3 to 10 ring carbon atoms and includes cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, adamantyl, and the like. Additionally, the cycloalkyl group may be optionally substituted.

The term “alkenyl” as used herein contemplates both straight and branched chain alkene radicals. Preferred alkenyl groups are those containing two to fifteen carbon atoms. Additionally, the alkenyl group may be optionally substituted.

The term “alkynyl” as used herein contemplates both straight and branched chain alkyne radicals. Preferred alkynyl groups are those containing two to fifteen carbon atoms. Additionally, the alkynyl group may be optionally substituted.

The terms “aralkyl” or “arylalkyl” as used herein are used interchangeably and contemplate an alkyl group that has as a substituent an aromatic group. Additionally, the aralkyl group may be optionally substituted.

The term “heterocyclic group” as used herein contemplates aromatic and non-aromatic cyclic radicals. Hetero-aromatic cyclic radicals also means heteroaryl. Preferred hetero-non-aromatic cyclic groups are those containing 3 or 7 ring atoms which includes at least one hetero atom, and includes cyclic amines such as morpholino, piperdino, pyrrolidino, and the like, and cyclic ethers, such as tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, and the like. Additionally, the heterocyclic group may be optionally substituted.

The term “aryl” or “aromatic group” as used herein contemplates single-ring groups and polycyclic ring systems. The polycyclic rings may have two or more rings in which two carbons are common to two adjoining rings (the rings are “fused”) wherein at least one of the rings is aromatic, e.g., the other rings can be cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, aryl, heterocycles, and/or heteroaryls. Preferred aryl groups are those containing six to thirty carbon atoms, preferably six to twenty carbon atoms, more preferably six to twelve carbon atoms. Especially preferred is an aryl group having six carbons, ten carbons or twelve carbons. Suitable aryl groups include phenyl, biphenyl, triphenyl, triphenylene, tetraphenylene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenalene, phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, chrysene, perylene, and azulene, preferably phenyl, biphenyl, triphenyl, triphenylene, fluorene, and naphthalene. Additionally, the aryl group may be optionally substituted.

The term “heteroaryl” as used herein contemplates single-ring hetero-aromatic groups that may include from one to five heteroatoms. The term heteroaryl also includes polycyclic hetero-aromatic systems having two or more rings in which two atoms are common to two adjoining rings (the rings are “fused”) wherein at least one of the rings is a heteroaryl. e.g., the other rings can be cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, aryl, heterocycles, and/or heteroaryls. Preferred heteroaryl groups are those containing three to thirty carbon atoms, preferably three to twenty carbon atoms, more preferably three to twelve carbon atoms. Suitable heteroaryl groups include dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene, furan, thiophene, benzofuran, benzothiophene, benzoselenophene, carbazole, indolocarbazole, pyridylindole, pyrrolodipyridine, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, oxazole, thiazole, oxadiazole, oxatriazole, dioxazole, thiadiazole, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, triazine, oxazine, oxathiazine, oxadiazine, indole, benzimidazole, indazole, indoxazine, benzoxazole, benzisoxazole, benzothiazole, quinoline, isoquinoline, cinnoline, quinazoline, quinoxaline, naphthyridine, phthalazine, pteridine, xanthene, acridine, phenazine, phenothiazine, phenoxazine, benzofuropyridine, furodipyridine, benzothienopyridine, thienodipyridine, benzoselenophenopyridine, and selenophenodipyridine, preferably dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene, carbazole, indolocarbazole, imidazole, pyridine, triazine, benzimidazole, and aza-analogs thereof. Additionally, the heteroaryl group may be optionally substituted.

The alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, heterocyclic group, aryl, and heteroaryl may be unsubstituted or may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of deuterium, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, cyclic amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acid, ether, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof.

As used herein, “substituted” indicates that a substituent other than H is bonded to the relevant position, such as carbon. Thus, for example, where R¹ is mono-substituted, then one R¹ must be other than H. Similarly, where R¹ is di-substituted, then two of R¹ must be other than H. Similarly, where R¹ is unsubstituted. R¹ is hydrogen for all available positions.

The “aza” designation in the fragments described herein, i.e. aza-dibenzofuran, aza-dibenzothiophene, etc. means that one or more of the C—H groups in the respective fragment can be replaced by a nitrogen atom, for example, and without any limitation, azatriphenylene encompasses both dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline and dibenzo[f,h]quinoline. One of ordinary skill in the art can readily envision other nitrogen analogs of the aza-derivatives described above, and all such analogs are intended to be encompassed by the terms as set forth herein.

It is to be understood that when a molecular fragment is described as being a substituent or otherwise attached to another moiety, its name may be written as if it were a fragment (e.g. phenyl, phenylene, naphthyl, dibenzofuryl) or as if it were the whole molecule (e.g. benzene, naphthalene, dibenzofuran). As used herein, these different ways of designating a substituent or attached fragment are considered to be equivalent.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, ligands containing five-membered ring fused on pyridine or pyrimidine ring combined with partially fluorinated side chains that are found to be useful as phosphorescent light-emitting metal complexes for organic light emitting devices are disclosed. The resulting light-emitting metal complexes exhibited improved external quantum efficiency and lifetimes.

Some exemplary ligands disclosed herein are fluoropyrimidine, thienopyrimidine, pyrrolopyrimidine, and cyclopentapyrimidine. In some embodiments, these ligands can be combined with aliphatic substituents containing at least one F atom. The combination of these two moieties on a single ligand was used for multiple reasons. Pyridine- or pyrimidine-based ligands used for red dopants have shown very good device efficiency and good lifetime. The incorporation of one or multiple side chains containing F atom will allow fine tuning of the color and especially provide a red shift.

According to some embodiments, a compound comprising a ligand L_A of Formula I,

##STR00004##
is disclosed; wherein ring A is a 5-membered or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring:

wherein R is fused to ring B and has a structure of Formula II,

##STR00005##
wherein the wave lines indicate bonds to ring B;

wherein R¹ represents mono, di, tri, or tetra substitution, or no substitution;

wherein R² represents mono or di substitution, or no substitution;

wherein X¹, X², X³, and X⁴ are each independently carbon or nitrogen;

wherein at least two adjacent of X¹, X², X³, and X⁴ are carbon and fuse to R;

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of BR′, NR′, PR′, O, S, Sc, C═O, S═O, SO₂, CR′R″, SiR′R″, and GeR′R″;

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R′, and R″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acid, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof; and wherein any two adjacent substituents are optionally joined to form into a ring;

wherein at least one of R¹ and R⁴ comprises a chemical group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, partially fluorinated alkyl, partially fluorinated cycloalkyl, and combinations thereof;

wherein the ligand L_A is coordinated to a metal M;

wherein the ligand L_A is optionally linked with other ligands to comprise a tridentate, tetradentate, pentadentate, or hexadentate ligand, and wherein M is optionally coordinated to other ligands.

In some embodiments of the compound, M is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Rh, Re, Ru, Os, Pt, Au, and Cu.

In some embodiments of the compound, M is Ir or Pt.

In some embodiments of the compound, the ligand L_A is selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00006## ##STR00007##

In some embodiments of the compound, the ligand L_A is:

##STR00008##

In some embodiments of the compound, the ligand L_A is:

##STR00009##

In some embodiments of the compound, at least one of R³ and R⁴ is a chemical group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, partially fluorinated alkyl, partially fluorinated cycloalkyl, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments of the compound, at least one of R³ and R⁴ is a chemical group selected from the group consisting of partially fluorinated alkyl, partially fluorinated cycloalkyl, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments of the compound, R³ and R⁴ are not hydrogen.

In some embodiments of the compound, at least one of X¹, X², X³, and X⁴ is nitrogen.

In some embodiments of the compound, X is O.

In some embodiments of the compound, X is NR′.

In some embodiments of the compound, X is CR′R″ or SiR′R″.

In some embodiments of the compound. R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R′ and R″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, alkyl, cycloalkyl, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments of the compound, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R′ and R″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments of the compound, at least one of R³ and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00010## ##STR00011## ##STR00012##

In some embodiments of the compound, R³ and R⁴ are joined to form a ring structure selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00013## ##STR00014##

In some embodiments of the compound, at least one of R³ and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00015##

In some embodiments of the compound, the ligand L_A is selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00016##
wherein R¹, R², R³, and R′ are as defined above.

In some embodiments of the compound, the ligand L_A is selected from the group consisting of L_A1 through L_A750 defined as follows:

L_A1 through L_A375 are based on a structure of Formula IV,

##STR00017##
in which R³, R⁴, and X are defined as shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1
	Ligand	R3	R4	X
	LA1	H	RA2	O
	LA2	RA2	RA2	O
	LA3	RA3	RA2	O
	LA4	RA14	RA2	O
	LA5	RA22	RA2	O
	LA6	RA28	RA2	O
	LA7	H	RA3	O
	LA8	RA2	RA3	O
	LA9	RA3	RA3	O
	LA10	RA14	RA3	O
	LA11	RA22	RA3	O
	LA12	RA28	RA3	O
	LA13	H	RA14	O
	LA14	RA2	RA14	O
	LA15	RA3	RA14	O
	LA16	RA14	RA14	O
	LA17	RA22	RA14	O
	LA18	RA28	RA14	O
	LA19	H	RA22	O
	LA20	RA2	RA22	O
	LA21	RA3	RA22	O
	LA22	RA14	RA22	O
	LA23	RA22	RA22	O
	LA24	RA28	RA22	O
	LA25	H	RA28	O
	LA26	RA2	RA28	O
	LA27	RA3	RA28	O
	LA28	RA14	RA28	O
	LA29	RA22	RA28	O
	LA30	RA28	RA28	O
	LA31	RA2	H	O
	LA32	RA3	H	O
	LA33	RA14	H	O
	LA34	RA22	H	O
	LA35	RA28	H	O
	LA36	RA2	RB1	O
	LA37	RA3	RB1	O
	LA38	RA14	RB1	O
	LA39	RA12	RB1	O
	LA40	RA28	RB1	O
	LA41	RA2	RB2	O
	LA42	RA3	RB2	O
	LA43	RA14	RB2	O
	LA44	RA22	RB2	O
	LA45	RA28	RB2	O
	LA46	RA2	RB3	O
	LA47	RA3	RB3	O
	LA48	RA14	RB3	O
	LA49	RA22	RB3	O
	LA50	RA28	RB3	O
	LA51	RA2	RB4	O
	LA52	RA3	RB4	O
	LA53	RA14	RB4	O
	LA54	RA22	RB4	O
	LA55	RA28	RB4	O
	LA56	RB1	RA2	O
	LA57	RB1	RA3	O
	LA58	RB1	RA14	O
	LA59	RB1	RA22	O
	LA60	RB1	RA28	O
	LA61	RB2	RA2	O
	LA62	RB2	RA3	O
	LA63	RB2	RA14	O
	LA64	RB2	RA22	O
	LA65	RB2	RA28	O
	LA66	RB3	RA2	O
	LA67	RB3	RA3	O
	LA68	RB3	RA14	O
	LA69	RB3	RA22	O
	LA70	RB3	RA28	O
	LA71	RB4	RA2	O
	LA72	RB4	RA3	O
	LA73	RB4	RA14	O
	LA74	RB4	RA22	O
	LA75	RB4	RA28	O
	LA76	H	RA2	S
	LA77	RA2	RA2	S
	LA78	RA3	RA2	S
	LA79	RA14	RA2	S
	LA80	RA22	RA2	S
	LA81	RA28	RA2	S
	LA82	H	RA3	S
	LA83	RA2	RA3	S
	LA84	RA3	RA3	S
	LA85	RA14	RA3	S
	LA86	RA22	RA3	S
	LA87	RA28	RA3	S
	LA88	H	RA14	S
	LA89	RA2	RA14	S
	LA90	RA3	RA14	S
	LA91	RA14	RA14	S
	LA92	RA22	RA14	S
	LA93	RA28	RA14	S
	LA94	H	RA22	S
	LA95	RA2	RA22	S
	LA96	RA3	RA22	S
	LA97	RA14	RA22	S
	LA98	RA22	RA22	S
	LA99	RA28	RA22	S
	LA100	H	RA28	S
	LA101	RA2	RA28	S
	LA102	RA3	RA28	S
	LA103	RA14	RA28	S
	LA104	RA22	RA28	S
	LA105	RA28	RA28	S
	LA106	RA2	H	S
	LA107	RA3	H	S
	LA108	RA14	H	S
	LA109	RA22	H	S
	LA110	RA28	H	S
	LA111	RA2	RB1	S
	LA112	RA3	RB1	S
	LA113	RA14	RB1	S
	LA114	RA22	RB1	S
	LA115	RA28	RB1	S
	LA116	RA2	RB2	S
	LA117	RA3	RB2	S
	LA118	RA14	RB2	S
	LA119	RA22	RB2	S
	LA120	RA28	RB2	S
	LA121	RA2	RB3	S
	LA122	RA3	RB3	S
	LA123	RA14	RB3	S
	LA124	RA22	RB3	S
	LA125	RA28	RB3	S
	LA126	RA2	RB4	S
	LA127	RA3	RB4	S
	LA128	RA14	RB4	S
	LA129	RA22	RB4	S
	LA130	RA28	RB4	S
	LA131	RB1	RA2	S
	LA132	RB1	RA3	S
	LA133	RB1	RA14	S
	LA134	RB1	RA22	S
	LA135	RB1	RA28	S
	LA136	RB2	RA2	S
	LA137	RB2	RA3	S
	LA138	RB2	RA14	S
	LA139	RB2	RA22	S
	LA140	RB2	RA28	S
	LA141	RB3	RA2	S
	LA142	RB3	RA3	S
	LA143	RB3	RA14	S
	LA144	RB3	RA22	S
	LA145	RB3	RA28	S
	LA146	RB4	RA2	S
	LA147	RB4	RA3	S
	LA148	RB4	RA14	S
	LA149	RB4	RA22	S
	LA150	RB4	RA28	S
	LA151	H	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA152	RA2	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA153	RA3	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA154	RA14	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA155	RA22	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA156	RA28	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA157	H	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA158	RA2	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA159	RA3	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA160	RA14	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA161	RA22	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA162	RA28	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA163	H	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA164	RA2	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA165	RA3	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA166	RA14	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA167	RA22	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA168	RA28	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA169	H	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA170	RA2	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA171	RA3	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA172	RA14	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA173	RA22	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA174	RA28	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA175	H	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA176	RA2	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA177	RA3	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA178	RA14	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA179	RA22	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA180	RA28	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA181	RA2	H	C(CH3)2
	LA182	RA3	H	C(CH3)2
	LA183	RA14	H	C(CH3)2
	LA184	RA22	H	C(CH3)2
	LA185	RA28	H	C(CH3)2
	LA186	RA2	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA187	RA3	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA188	RA14	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA189	RA22	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA190	RA28	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA191	RA2	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA192	RA3	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA193	RA14	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA194	RA22	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA195	RA28	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA196	RA2	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA197	RA3	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA198	RA14	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA199	RA22	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA200	RA28	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA201	RA2	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA202	RA3	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA203	RA14	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA204	RA22	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA205	RA28	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA206	RB1	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA207	RB1	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA208	RB1	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA209	RB1	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA210	RB1	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA211	RB2	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA212	RB2	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA213	RB2	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA214	RB2	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA215	RB2	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA216	RB3	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA217	RB3	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA218	RB3	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA219	RB3	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA220	RB3	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA221	RB4	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA222	RB4	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA223	RB4	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA224	RB4	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA225	RB4	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA226	H	RA2	NCH3
	LA227	RA2	RA2	NCH3
	LA228	RA3	RA2	NCH3
	LA229	RA14	RA2	NCH3
	LA230	RA22	RA2	NCH3
	LA231	RA28	RA2	NCH3
	LA232	H	RA3	NCH3
	LA233	RA2	RA3	NCH3
	LA234	RA3	RA3	NCH3
	LA235	RA14	RA3	NCH3
	LA236	RA22	RA3	NCH3
	LA237	RA28	RA3	NCH3
	LA238	H	RA14	NCH3
	LA239	RA2	RA14	NCH3
	LA240	RA3	RA14	NCH3
	LA241	RA14	RA14	NCH3
	LA242	RA22	RA14	NCH3
	LA243	RA28	RA14	NCH3
	LA244	H	RA22	NCH3
	LA245	RA2	RA22	NCH3
	LA246	RA3	RA22	NCH3
	LA247	RA14	RA22	NCH3
	LA248	RA22	RA22	NCH3
	LA249	RA28	RA22	NCH3
	LA250	H	RA28	NCH3
	LA251	RA2	RA28	NCH3
	LA252	RA3	RA28	NCH3
	LA253	RA14	RA28	NCH3
	LA254	RA22	RA28	NCH3
	LA255	RA28	RA28	NCH3
	LA256	RA2	H	NCH3
	LA257	RA3	H	NCH3
	LA258	RA14	H	NCH3
	LA259	RA22	H	NCH3
	LA260	RA28	H	NCH3
	LA261	RA2	RB1	NCH3
	LA262	RA3	RB1	NCH3
	LA263	RA14	RB1	NCH3
	LA264	RA22	RBI	NCH3
	LA265	RA28	RB1	NCH3
	LA266	RA2	RB2	NCH3
	LA267	RA3	RB2	NCH3
	LA268	RA14	RB2	NCH3
	LA269	RA22	RB2	NCH3
	LA270	RA28	RB2	NCH3
	LA271	RA2	RB3	NCH3
	LA272	RA3	RB3	NCH3
	LA273	RA14	RB3	NCH3
	LA274	RA22	RB3	NCH3
	LA275	RA28	RB3	NCH3
	LA276	RA2	RB4	NCH3
	LA277	RA3	RB4	NCH3
	LA278	RA14	RB4	NCH3
	LA279	RA22	RB4	NCH3
	LA280	RA28	RB4	NCH3
	LA281	RA2	RB1	NCH3
	LA282	RA3	RB1	NCH3
	LA283	RA14	RB1	NCH3
	LA284	RA22	RB1	NCH3
	LA285	RA28	RB1	NCH3
	LA286	RA2	RB2	NCH3
	LA287	RA3	RB2	NCH3
	LA288	RA14	RB2	NCH3
	LA289	RA22	RB2	NCH3
	LA290	RA28	RB2	NCH3
	LA291	RA2	RB3	NCH3
	LA292	RA3	RB3	NCH3
	LA293	RA14	RB3	NCH3
	LA294	RA22	RB3	NCH3
	LA295	RA28	RB3	NCH3
	LA296	RA2	RB4	NCH3
	LA297	RA3	RB4	NCH3
	LA298	RA14	RB4	NCH3
	LA299	RA22	RB4	NCH3
	LA300	RA28	RB4	NCH3
	LA301	H	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA302	RA2	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA303	RA3	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA304	RA14	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA305	RA22	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA306	RA28	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA307	H	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA308	RA2	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA309	RA3	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA310	RA14	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA311	RA22	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA312	RA28	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA313	H	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA314	RA2	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA315	RA3	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA316	RA14	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA317	RA22	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA318	RA28	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA319	H	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA320	RA2	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA321	RA3	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA322	RA14	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA323	RA22	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA324	RA28	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA325	H	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA326	RA2	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA327	RA3	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA328	RA14	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA329	RA22	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA330	RA28	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA331	RA2	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA332	RA3	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA333	RA14	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA334	RA22	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA335	RA28	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA336	RA2	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA337	RA3	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA338	RA14	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA339	RA22	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA340	RA28	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA341	RA2	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA342	RA3	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA343	RA14	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA344	RA22	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA345	RA28	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA346	RA2	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA347	RA3	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA348	RA14	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA349	RA22	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA350	RA28	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA351	RA2	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA352	RA3	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA353	RA14	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA354	RA22	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA355	RA28	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA356	RB1	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA357	RB1	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA358	RB1	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA359	RB1	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA360	RB1	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA361	RB2	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA362	RB2	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA363	RB2	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA364	RB2	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA365	RB2	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA366	RB3	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA367	RB3	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA368	RB3	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA369	RB3	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA370	RB3	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA371	RB4	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA372	RB4	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA373	RB4	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA374	RB4	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA375	RB4	RA28	N(isobutyl)

and L_A376 through L_A750 are based on a structure of, Formula V,

##STR00018##
in which R³, R⁴, and X are defined as shown in Table 2 below:

TABLE 2
	Ligand	R3	R4	X
	LA376	H	RA2	O
	LA377	RA2	RA2	O
	LA378	RA3	RA2	O
	LA379	RA14	RA2	O
	LA380	RA22	RA2	O
	LA381	RA28	RA2	O
	LA382	H	RA3	O
	LA383	RA2	RA3	O
	LA384	RA3	RA3	O
	LA385	RA14	RA3	O
	LA386	RA22	RA3	O
	LA387	RA28	RA3	O
	LA388	H	RA14	O
	LA389	RA2	RA14	O
	LA390	RA3	RA14	O
	LA391	RA14	RA14	O
	LA392	RA22	RA14	O
	LA393	RA28	RA14	O
	LA394	H	RA22	O
	LA395	RA2	RA22	O
	LA396	RA3	RA22	O
	LA397	RA14	RA22	O
	LA398	RA22	RA22	O
	LA399	RA28	RA22	O
	LA400	H	RA28	O
	LA401	RA2	RA28	O
	LA402	RA3	RA28	O
	LA403	RA14	RA28	O
	LA404	RA22	RA28	O
	LA405	RA28	RA28	O
	LA406	RA2	H	O
	LA407	RA3	H	O
	LA408	RA14	H	O
	LA409	RA22	H	O
	LA410	RA28	H	O
	LA411	RA2	RB1	O
	LA412	RA3	RB1	O
	LA413	RA14	RB1	O
	LA414	RA22	RB1	O
	LA415	RA28	RB1	O
	LA416	RA2	RB2	O
	LA417	RA3	RB2	O
	LA418	RA14	RB2	O
	LA419	RA22	RB2	O
	LA420	RA28	RB2	O
	LA421	RA2	RB3	O
	LA422	RA3	RB3	O
	LA423	RA14	RB3	O
	LA424	RA22	RB3	O
	LA425	RA28	RB3	O
	LA426	RA2	RB4	O
	LA427	RA3	RB4	O
	LA428	RA14	RB4	O
	LA429	RA22	RB4	O
	LA430	RA28	RB4	O
	LA431	RB1	RA2	O
	LA432	RB1	RA3	O
	LA433	RB1	RA14	O
	LA434	RB1	RA22	O
	LA435	RB1	RA28	O
	LA436	RB2	RA2	O
	LA437	RB2	RA3	O
	LA438	RB2	RA14	O
	LA439	RB2	RA22	O
	LA440	RB2	RA28	O
	LA441	RB3	RA2	O
	LA442	RB3	RA3	O
	LA443	RB3	RA14	O
	LA444	RB3	RA22	O
	LA445	RB3	RA28	O
	LA446	RB4	RA2	O
	LA447	RB4	RA3	O
	LA448	RB4	RA14	O
	LA449	RB4	RA22	O
	LA450	RB4	RA28	O
	LA451	H	RA2	S
	LA452	RA2	RA2	S
	LA453	RA3	RA2	S
	LA454	RA14	RA2	S
	LA455	RA22	RA2	S
	LA456	RA28	RA2	S
	LA457	H	RA3	S
	LA458	RA2	RA3	S
	LA459	RA3	RA3	S
	LA460	RA14	RA3	S
	LA461	RA22	RA3	S
	LA462	RA28	RA3	S
	LA463	H	RA14	S
	LA464	RA2	RA14	S
	LA465	RA3	RA14	S
	LA466	RA14	RA14	S
	LA467	RA22	RA14	S
	LA468	RA28	RA14	S
	LA469	H	RA22	S
	LA470	RA2	RA22	S
	LA471	RA3	RA22	S
	LA472	RA14	RA22	S
	LA473	RA22	RA22	S
	LA474	RA28	RA22	S
	LA475	H	RA28	S
	LA476	RA2	RA28	S
	LA477	RA3	RA28	S
	LA478	RA14	RA28	S
	LA479	RA22	RA28	S
	LA480	RA28	RA28	S
	LA481	RA2	H	S
	LA482	RA3	H	S
	LA483	RA14	H	S
	LA484	RA22	H	S
	LA485	RA28	H	S
	LA486	RA2	RB1	S
	LA487	RA3	RB1	S
	LA488	RA14	RB1	S
	LA489	RA22	RB1	S
	LA490	RA28	RB1	S
	LA491	RA2	RB2	S
	LA492	RA3	RB2	S
	LA493	RA14	RB2	S
	LA494	RA22	RB2	S
	LA495	RA28	RB2	S
	LA496	RA2	RB3	S
	LA497	RA3	RB3	S
	LA498	RA14	RB3	S
	LA499	RA22	RB3	S
	LA500	RA28	RB3	S
	LA501	RA2	RB4	S
	LA502	RA3	RB4	S
	LA503	RA14	RB4	S
	LA504	RA22	RB4	S
	LA505	RA28	RB4	S
	LA506	RB1	RA2	S
	LA507	RB1	RA3	S
	LA508	RB1	RA14	S
	LA509	RB1	RA22	S
	LA510	RB1	RA28	S
	LA511	RB2	RA2	S
	LA512	RB2	RA3	S
	LA513	RB2	RA14	S
	LA514	RB2	RA22	S
	LA515	RB2	RA28	S
	LA516	RB3	RA2	S
	LA517	RB3	RA3	S
	LA518	RB3	RA14	S
	LA519	RB3	RA22	S
	LA520	RB3	RA28	S
	LA521	RB4	RA2	S
	LA522	RB4	RA3	S
	LA523	RB4	RA14	S
	LA524	RB4	RA22	S
	LA525	RB4	RA28	S
	LA526	H	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA527	RA2	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA528	RA3	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA529	RA14	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA530	RA22	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA531	RA28	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA532	H	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA533	RA2	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA534	RA3	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA535	RA14	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA536	RA22	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA537	RA28	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA538	H	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA539	RA2	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA540	RA3	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA541	RA14	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA542	RA22	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA543	RA28	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA544	H	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA545	RA2	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA546	RA3	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA547	RA14	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA548	RA22	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA549	RA28	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA550	H	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA551	RA2	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA552	RA3	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA553	RA14	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA554	RA22	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA555	RA28	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA556	RA2	H	C(CH3)2
	LA557	RA3	H	C(CH3)2
	LA558	RA14	H	C(CH3)2
	LA559	RA22	H	C(CH3)2
	LA560	RA28	H	C(CH3)2
	LA561	RA2	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA562	RA3	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA563	RA14	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA564	RA22	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA565	RA28	RB1	C(CH3)2
	LA566	RA2	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA567	RA3	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA568	RA14	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA569	RA22	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA570	RA28	RB2	C(CH3)2
	LA571	RA2	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA572	RA3	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA573	RA14	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA574	RA22	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA575	RA28	RB3	C(CH3)2
	LA576	RA2	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA577	RA3	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA578	RA14	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA579	RA22	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA580	RA28	RB4	C(CH3)2
	LA581	RB1	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA582	RB1	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA583	RB1	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA584	RB1	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA585	RB1	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA586	RB2	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA587	RB2	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA588	RB2	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA589	RB2	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA590	RB2	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA591	RB3	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA592	RB3	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA593	RB3	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA594	RB3	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA595	RB3	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA596	RB4	RA2	C(CH3)2
	LA597	RB4	RA3	C(CH3)2
	LA598	RB4	RA14	C(CH3)2
	LA599	RB4	RA22	C(CH3)2
	LA600	RB4	RA28	C(CH3)2
	LA601	H	RA2	NCH3
	LA602	RA2	RA2	NCH3
	LA603	RA3	RA2	NCH3
	LA604	RA14	RA2	NCH3
	LA605	RA22	RA2	NCH3
	LA606	RA28	RA2	NCH3
	LA607	H	RA3	NCH3
	LA608	RA2	RA3	NCH3
	LA609	RA3	RA3	NCH3
	LA610	RA14	RA3	NCH3
	LA611	RA22	RA3	NCH3
	LA612	RA28	RA3	NCH3
	LA613	H	RA14	NCH3
	LA614	RA2	RA14	NCH3
	LA615	RA3	RA14	NCH3
	LA616	RA14	RA14	NCH3
	LA617	RA22	RA14	NCH3
	LA618	RA28	RA14	NCH3
	LA619	H	RA22	NCH3
	LA620	RA2	RA22	NCH3
	LA621	RA3	RA22	NCH3
	LA622	RA14	RA22	NCH3
	LA623	RA22	RA22	NCH3
	LA624	RA28	RA22	NCH3
	LA625	H	RA28	NCH3
	LA626	RA2	RA28	NCH3
	LA627	RA3	RA28	NCH3
	LA628	RA14	RA28	NCH3
	LA629	RA22	RA28	NCH3
	LA630	RA28	RA28	NCH3
	LA631	RA2	H	NCH3
	LA632	RA3	H	NCH3
	LA633	RA14	H	NCH3
	LA634	RA22	H	NCH3
	LA635	RA28	H	NCH3
	LA636	RA2	RB1	NCH3
	LA637	RA3	RB1	NCH3
	LA638	RA14	RB1	NCH3
	LA639	RA22	RB1	NCH3
	LA640	RA28	RB1	NCH3
	LA641	RA2	RB2	NCH3
	LA642	RA3	RB2	NCH3
	LA643	RA14	RB2	NCH3
	LA644	RA22	RB2	NCH3
	LA645	RA28	RB2	NCH3
	LA646	RA2	RB3	NCH3
	LA647	RA3	RB3	NCH3
	LA648	RA14	RB3	NCH3
	LA649	RA22	RB3	NCH3
	LA650	RA28	RB3	NCH3
	LA651	RA2	RB4	NCH3
	LA652	RA3	RB4	NCH3
	LA653	RA14	RB4	NCH3
	LA654	RA22	RB4	NCH3
	LA655	RA28	RB4	NCH3
	LA656	RA2	RB1	NCH3
	LA657	RA3	RB1	NCH3
	LA658	RA14	RB1	NCH3
	LA659	RA22	RB1	NCH3
	LA660	RA28	RB1	NCH3
	LA651	RA2	RB2	NCH3
	LA662	RA3	RB2	NCH3
	LA663	RA14	RB2	NCH3
	LA664	RA22	RB2	NCH3
	LA665	RA28	RB2	NCH3
	LA666	RA2	RB3	NCH3
	LA667	RA3	RB3	NCH3
	LA668	RA14	RB3	NCH3
	LA669	RA22	RB3	NCH3
	LA670	RA28	RB3	NCH3
	LA671	RA2	RB4	NCH3
	LA672	RA3	RB4	NCH3
	LA673	RA14	RB4	NCH3
	LA674	RA22	RB4	NCH3
	LA675	RA28	RB4	NCH3
	LA676	H	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA677	RA2	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA678	RA3	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA679	RA14	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA680	RA22	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA681	RA28	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA682	H	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA683	RA2	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA684	RA3	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA685	RA14	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA686	RA22	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA687	RA28	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA688	H	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA689	RA2	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA690	RA3	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA691	RA14	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA692	RA22	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA693	RA28	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA694	H	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA695	RA2	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA696	RA3	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA697	RA14	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA698	RA22	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA699	RA28	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA700	H	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA701	RA2	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA702	RA3	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA703	RA14	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA704	RA22	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA705	RA28	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA706	RA2	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA707	RA3	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA708	RA14	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA709	RA22	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA710	RA28	H	N(isobutyl)
	LA711	RA2	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA712	RA3	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA713	RA14	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA714	RA22	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA715	RA28	RB1	N(isobutyl)
	LA716	RA2	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA717	RA3	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA718	RA14	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA719	RA22	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA720	RA28	RB2	N(isobutyl)
	LA721	RA2	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA722	RA3	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA723	RA14	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA724	RA22	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA725	RA28	RB3	N(isobutyl)
	LA726	RA2	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA727	RA3	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA728	RA14	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA729	RA22	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA730	RA28	RB4	N(isobutyl)
	LA731	RB1	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA732	RB1	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA733	RB1	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA734	RB1	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA735	RB1	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA736	RB2	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA737	RB2	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA738	RB2	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA739	RB2	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA740	RB2	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA741	RB3	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA742	RB3	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA743	RB3	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA744	RB3	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA745	RB3	RA28	N(isobutyl)
	LA746	RB4	RA2	N(isobutyl)
	LA747	RB4	RA3	N(isobutyl)
	LA748	RB4	RA14	N(isobutyl)
	LA749	RB4	RA22	N(isobutyl)
	LA750	RB4	RA28	N(isobutyl)

wherein R^B1 to R^B4 have the following structures:

##STR00019##

In some embodiments of the compound, the compound has a structure of Formula III, (L_A)_nIR(L_B)_3-n, wherein L_B is a bidentate ligand and n is 1, 2, or 3.

In some embodiments of the compound having the structure of Formula III, the ligand L_B is selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00020## ##STR00021## ##STR00022##

In some embodiments of the compound having the structure of Formula III, the compound is selected from the group consisting of Compound 1 through Compound 12,750;

wherein each Compound x has the formula Ir(L_Ak)₂(L_Bj);

wherein x=750j+k−750, k is an integer from 1 to 750, and j is an integer from 1 to 17; and wherein ligands L_B1 through L_B17 are defined as follows:

##STR00023## ##STR00024## ##STR00025##

In some embodiments of the compound, the compound has a structure of Formula VI, (L_A)_mPt(L_C)_2-m, wherein L_C is a bidentate ligand, and m is 1, or 2.

In some embodiments of the compound having the structure of Formula VI, m is 1, and L_A is connected to L_C to form a tetradentate ligand.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a first organic light emitting device comprising: an anode; a cathode, and an organic layer disposed between the anode and the cathode is disclosed. The organic layer comprises a compound comprising a ligand L_A of Formula I.

##STR00026##
wherein ring A is a 5-membered or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring;

wherein R is fused to ring B and has a structure of Formula II,

##STR00027##
wherein the wave lines indicate bonds to ring B;

• • wherein R¹ represents mono, di, tri, or tetra substitution, or no substitution;

wherein R² represents mono or di substitution, or no substitution;

wherein X¹, X², X³, and X⁴ are each independently carbon or nitrogen;

wherein at least two adjacent of X¹, X², X³, and X⁴ are carbon and fuse to R;

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of BR′, NR′, PR′, O, S, Se, C═O, S═O, SO₂, CR′R″, SiR′R″, and GeR′R″;

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R′, and R″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acid, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof; and wherein any two adjacent substituents are optionally joined to form into a ring;

wherein at least one of R³ and R⁴ comprises a chemical group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, partially fluorinated alkyl, partially fluorinated cycloalkyl, and combinations thereof;

wherein L_A is coordinated to a metal M;

wherein L_A is optionally linked with other ligands to comprise a tridentate, tetradentate, pentadentate, or hexadentate ligand; and

wherein M is optionally coordinated to other ligands.

The organic light emitting device disclosed herein can be incorporated into one or more of a consumer product, an electronic component module, an organic light-emitting device, and a lighting panel. The organic layer can be an emissive layer and the compound can be an emissive dopant in some embodiments, while the compound can be a non-emissive dopant in other embodiments.

The organic layer can also include a host. In some embodiments, two or more hosts are preferred. In some embodiments, the hosts used may be a) bipolar, b) electron transporting, c) hole transporting or d) wide band gap materials that play little role in charge transport. In some embodiments, the host can include a metal complex. The host can be a triphenylene containing benzo-fused thiophene or benzo-fused furan. Any substituent in the host can be an unfused substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C_nH_2n+1, OC_nH_2n+1, OAr₁, N(C_nH_2n+1)₂, N(Ar₁)(Ar₂), CH═CH—C_nH_2n+1, C≡C—C_nH_2n+1, Ar₁, Ar₁-Ar₂, and C_nH_2n—Ar₁, or the host has no substitution. In the preceding substituents n can range from 1 to 10; and Ar₁ and Ar₂ can be independently selected from the group consisting of benzene, biphenyl, naphthalene, triphenylene, carbazole, and heteroaromatic analogs thereof. The host can be an inorganic compound. For example a Zn containing inorganic material e.g. ZnS.

The host can be a compound comprising at least one chemical group selected from the group consisting of triphenylene, carbazole, dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene,, azatriphenylene, azacarbazole, aza-dibenzothiophene, aza-dibenzofuran, and aza-dibenzoselenophene. The host can include a metal complex.

The host can be, but is not limited to, a specific compound selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00028## ##STR00029## ##STR00030## ##STR00031##
and combinations thereof. Additional information on possible hosts is provided below.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a formulation comprising a compound comprising the ligand L_A of Formula I, as defined above, is disclosed. The formulation can include one or more components selected from the group consisting of a solvent, a host, a hole injection material, hole transport material, and an electron transport layer material, disclosed herein.

Combination with Other Materials

The materials described herein as useful for a particular layer in an organic light emitting device may be used in combination with a wide variety of other materials present in the device. For example, emissive dopants disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with a wide variety of hosts, transport layers, blocking layers, injection layers, electrodes and other layers that may be present. The materials described or referred to below are non-limiting examples of materials that may be useful in combination with the compounds disclosed herein, and one of skill in the art can readily consult the literature to identify other materials that may be useful in combination.

Conductivity Dopants:

A charge transport layer can be doped with conductivity dopants to substantially alter its density of charge carriers, which will in turn alter its conductivity. The conductivity is increased by generating charge carriers in the matrix material, and depending on the type of dopant, a change in the Fermi level of the semiconductor may also be achieved. Hole-transporting layer can be doped by p-type conductivity dopants and n-type conductivity dopants are used in the electron-transporting layer. Non-limiting examples of the conductivity dopants that may be used in an OLED in combination with materials disclosed herein are exemplified below together with references that disclose those materials:

EP01617493, EP01968131, EP2020694, EP2684932, US20050139810, US20070160905, US20090167167, US2010288362, WO06081780, WO2009003455, WO2009008277, WO2009011327, WO2014009310, US2007252140, US2015060804 and US2012146012.

##STR00032## ##STR00033##
HIL/HTL:

A hole injecting/transporting material to be used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and any compound may be used as long as the compound is typically used as a hole injecting/transporting material. Examples of the material include, but are not limited to: a phthalocyanine or porphyrin derivative; an aromatic amine derivative; an indolocarbazole derivative; a polymer containing fluorohydrocarbon; a polymer with conductivity dopants; a conducting polymer, such as PEDOT/PSS; a self-assembly monomer derived from compounds such as phosphonic acid and silane derivatives; a metal oxide derivative, such as MoO_x; a p-type semiconducting organic compound, such as 1,4,5,8,9,12-Hexaazatriphenylenehexacarbonitrile; a metal complex, and a cross-linkable compounds.

Examples of aromatic amine derivatives used in HIL or HTL include, but not limit to the following general structures:

##STR00034##

Each of Ar¹ to Ar⁹ is selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic compounds such as benzene, biphenyl, triphenyl, triphenylene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenalene, phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, chrysene, perylene, and azulene; the group consisting of aromatic heterocyclic compounds such as dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene, furan, thiophene, benzofuran, benzothiophene, benzoselenophene, carbazole, indolocarbazole, pyridylindole, pyrrolodipyridine, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, oxazole, thiazole, oxadiazole, oxatriazole, dioxazole, thiadiazole, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, triazine, oxazine, oxathiazine, oxadiazine, indole, benzimidazole, indazole, indoxazine, benzoxazole, benzisoxazole, benzothiazole, quinoline, isoquinoline, cinnoline, quinazoline, quinoxaline, naphthyridine, phthalazine, pteridine, xanthene, acridine, phenazine, phenothiazine, phenoxazine, benzofuropyridine, furodipyridine, benzothienopyridine, thienodipyridine, benzoselenophenopyridine, and selenophenodipyridine; and the group consisting of 2 to 10 cyclic structural units which are groups of the same type or different types selected from the aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic group and the aromatic heterocyclic group and are bonded to each other directly or via at least one of oxygen atom, nitrogen atom, sulfur atom, silicon atom, phosphorus atom, boron atom, chain structural unit and the aliphatic cyclic group. Each Ar may be unsubstituted or may be substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof.

In one aspect, Ar¹ to Ar⁹ is independently selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00035##
wherein k is an integer from 1 to 20; X¹⁰¹ to X¹⁰⁸ is C (including CH) or N; Z¹⁰¹ is NAr¹, O, or S; Ar¹ has the same group defined above.

Examples of metal complexes used in HIL or HTL include, but are not limited to the following general formula:

##STR00036##
wherein Met is a metal, which can have an atomic weight greater than 40; (Y¹⁰¹-Y₁₀₂) is a bidentate ligand. Y¹⁰¹ and Y¹⁰² are independently selected from C, N, O, P, and S; L¹⁰¹ is an ancillary ligand; k′ is an integer value from 1 to the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal; and k′+k″ is the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal.

In one aspect, (Y¹⁰¹-Y¹⁰²) is a 2-phenylpyridine derivative. In another aspect, (Y¹⁰¹-Y¹⁰²) is a carbene ligand. In another aspect, Met is selected from Ir, Pt, Os, and Zn. In a further aspect, the metal complex has a smallest oxidation potential in solution vs. Fc⁺/Fc couple less than about 0.6 V.

Non-limiting examples of the HIL and HTL materials that may be used in an OLED in combination with materials disclosed herein are exemplified below together with references that disclose those materials:

CN102702075, DE102012005215, EP01624500, EP01698613, EP01806334, EP01930964, EP01972613, EP01997799, EP02011790, EP02055700, EP02055701, EP1725079, EP2085382, EP2660300, EP650955, JP07073529, JP2005112765, JP2007091719, JP2008021687, JP2014-009196, KR20110088898, KR20130077473, TW201139402, U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,957. US20020158242, US20030162053, US20050123751, US20060182993, US20060240279, US20070145888, US20070181874, US20070278938, US20080014464, US20080091025, US20080106190, US20080124572, US20080145707, US20080220265, US20080233434, US20080303417, US2008107919, US20090115320, US20090167161, US2009066235, US2011007385, US20110163302, US2011240968, US2011278551, US2012205642, US2013241401, US20140117329, US2014183517, U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,569, U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,914, WO05075451, WO07125714, WO08023550, WO08023759, WO2009145016, WO2010061824, WO2011075644, WO2012177006, WO02013018530, WO2013039073, WO2013087142, WO2013118812, WO2013120577, WO2013157367, WO2013175747, WO2014002873, WO2014015935, WO2014015937, WO2014030872, WO2014030921, WO2014034791, WO2014104514, WO2014157018.

##STR00037## ##STR00038## ##STR00039## ##STR00040## ##STR00041## ##STR00042## ##STR00043## ##STR00044## ##STR00045## ##STR00046## ##STR00047## ##STR00048## ##STR00049## ##STR00050##
EBL:

An electron blocking layer (EBL) may be used to reduce the number of electrons and/or excitons that leave the emissive layer. The presence of such a blocking layer in a device may result in substantially higher efficiencies, and or longer lifetime, as compared to a similar device lacking a blocking layer. Also, a blocking layer may be used to confine emission to a desired region of an OLED. In some embodiments, the EBL material has a higher LUMO (closer to the vacuum level) and/or higher triplet energy than the emitter closest to the EBL interface. In some embodiments, the EBL material has a higher LUMO (closer to the vacuum level) and or higher triplet energy than one or more of the hosts closest to the EBL interface. In one aspect, the compound used in EBL contains the same molecule or the same functional groups used as one of the hosts described below.

Host:

The light emitting layer of the organic EL device of the present invention preferably contains at least a metal complex as light emitting material, and may contain a host material using the metal complex as a dopant material. Examples of the host material are not particularly limited, and any metal complexes or organic compounds may be used as long as the triplet energy of the host is larger than that of the dopant. While the Table below categorizes host materials as preferred for devices that emit various colors, any host material may be used with any dopant so long as the triplet criteria is satisfied.

Examples of metal complexes used as host are preferred to have the following general formula:

##STR00051##
wherein Met is a metal; (Y₁₀₃-Y¹⁰⁴) is a bidentate ligand, Y¹⁰³ and Y¹⁰⁴ are independently selected from C, N, O, P, and S; L¹⁰¹ is an another ligand; k′ is an integer value from 1 to the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal; and k′+k″ is the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal.

In one aspect, the metal complexes are:

##STR00052##
wherein (O—N) is a bidentate ligand, having metal coordinated to atoms O and N.

In another aspect, Met is selected from Ir and Pt. In a further aspect, (Y¹⁰³-Y¹⁰⁴) is a carbene ligand.

Examples of organic compounds used as host are selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic compounds such as benzene, biphenyl, triphenyl, triphenylene, tetraphenylene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenalene, phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, chrysene, perylene, and azulene; the group consisting of aromatic heterocyclic compounds such as dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene, furan, thiophene, benzofuran, benzothiophene, benzoselenophene, carbazole, indolocarbazole, pyridylindole, pyrrolodipyridine, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, oxazole, thiazole, oxadiazole, oxatriazole, dioxazole, thiadiazole, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, triazine, oxazine, oxathiazine, oxadiazine, indole, benzimidazole, indazole, indoxazine, benzoxazole, benzisoxazole, benzothiazole, quinoline, isoquinoline, cinnoline, quinazoline, quinoxaline, naphthyridine, phthalazine, pteridine, xanthene, acridine, phenazine, phenothiazine, phenoxazine, benzofuropyridine, furodipyridine, benzothienopyridine, thienodipyridine, benzoselenophenopyridine, and selenophenodipyridine; and the group consisting of 2 to 10 cyclic structural units which are groups of the same type or different types selected from the aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic group and the aromatic heterocyclic group and are bonded to each other directly or via at least one of oxygen atom, nitrogen atom, sulfur atom, silicon atom, phosphorus atom, boron atom, chain structural unit and the aliphatic cyclic group. Each option within each group may be unsubstituted or may be substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof.

In one aspect, the host compound contains at least one of the following groups in the molecule:

##STR00053## ##STR00054##
wherein each of R¹⁰¹ to R¹⁰⁷ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof, and when it is aryl or heteroaryl, it has the similar definition as Ar's mentioned above. k is an integer from 0 to 20 or 1 to 20; k″′ is an integer from 0 to 20. X¹⁰¹ to X¹⁰⁸ is selected from C (including CH) or N.
Z¹⁰¹ and Z¹⁰² is selected from NR¹⁰¹, O, or S.

Non-limiting examples of the Host materials that may be used in an OLED in combination with materials disclosed herein are exemplified below together with references that disclose those materials:

EP2034538, EP2034538A, EP2757608, JP2007254297. KR20100079458, KR20120088644, KR20120129733, KR20130115564, TW201329200, US20030175553, US20050238919, US20060280965, US20090017330, US20090030202, US20090167162, US20090302743, US20090309488, US20100012931, US20100084966, US20100187984, US2010187984, US2012075273, US2012126221, US2013009543, US2013105787, US2013175519, US2014001446, US20140183503, US20140225088, US2014034914, U.S. Pat. No. 7,154,114, WO2001039234, WO2004093207, WO2005014551, WO2005089025, WO2006072002, WO2006114966, WO2007063754, WO2008056746, WO2009003898, WO2009021126, WO2009063833, WO2009066778, WO2009066779, WO2009086028, WO2010056066, WO2010107244, WO2011081423, WO2011081431, WO2011086863, WO2012128298, WO2012133644, WO2012133649, WO2013024872, WO2013035275, WO2013081315, WO2013191404, WO2014142472.

##STR00055## ##STR00056## ##STR00057## ##STR00058## ##STR00059## ##STR00060## ##STR00061## ##STR00062## ##STR00063## ##STR00064## ##STR00065## ##STR00066## ##STR00067## ##STR00068##
Emitter:

An emitter example is not particularly limited, and any compound may be used as long as the compound is typically used as an emitter material. Examples of suitable emitter materials include, but are not limited to, compounds which can produce emissions via phosphorescence, fluorescence, thermally activated delayed fluorescence, i.e., TADF (also referred to as E-type delayed fluorescence), triplet-triplet annihilation, or combinations of these processes.

Non-limiting examples of the emitter materials that may be used in an OLED in combination with materials disclosed herein are exemplified below together with references that disclose those materials: CN103694277, CN1696137, EB01238981, EP01239526, EP01961743, EP1239526, EP1244155, EP1642951, EP1647554, EP1841834, EP1841834B, EP2062907, EP2730583, JP2012074444, JP2013110263, JP4478555. KR1020090133652, KR20120032054, KR20130043460, TW201332980, U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,599, U.S. Pat. No. 6,916,554, US20010019782, US20020034656. US20030068526, US20030072964, US20030138657, US20050123788, US20050244673, US2005123791, US2005260449, US20060008670, US20060065890, US20060127696, US20060134459, US20060134462, US20060202194, US20060251923, US20070034863, US20070087321, US20070103060, US20070111026, US20070190359, US20070231600, US2007034863, US2007104979, US2007104980, US2007138437, US2007224450, US2007278936, US20080020237, US20080233410, US20080261076, US20080297033, US200805851, US2008161567, US2008210930, US20090039776, US20090108737, US20090115322, US20090179555, US2009085476, US2009104472, US20100090591, US20100148663, US20100244004, US20100295032, US2010102716, US2010105902, US2010244004, US2010270916, US20110057559, US20110108822, US20110204333, US2011215710, US2011227049, US2011285275, US2012292601, US20130146848, US2013033172, US2013165653, US2013181190, US2013334521, US20140246656, US2014103305. U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,238, U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,656. U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,654. U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,645, U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,266, U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,469, U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,915, U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704, U.S. Pat. No. 7,332,232, U.S. Pat. No. 7,378,162, U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,505, U.S. Pat. No. 7,675,228. U.S. Pat. No. 7,728,137, U.S. Pat. No. 7,740,957, U.S. Pat. No. 7,759,489, U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,947, U.S. Pat. No. 8,067,099, U.S. Pat. No. 8,592,586. U.S. Pat. No. 8,871,361, WO06081973, WO06121811, WO07018067, WO07108362, WO07115970, WO07115981, WO08035571, WO2002015645, WO2003040257, WO2005019373, WO2006056418, WO2008054584, WO2008078800, WO2008096609, WO2008101842, WO2009000673, WO2009050281, WO2009100991, WO2010028151, WO2010054731, WO2010086089, WO2010118029, WO2011044988, WO2011051404, WO2011107491, WO2012020327, WO2012163471, WO2013094620, WO2013107487, WO2013174471, WO2014007565, WO2014008982, WO2014023377, WO2014024131, WO2014031977, WO2014038456, WO2014112450.

##STR00069## ##STR00070## ##STR00071## ##STR00072## ##STR00073## ##STR00074## ##STR00075## ##STR00076## ##STR00077## ##STR00078## ##STR00079## ##STR00080## ##STR00081## ##STR00082## ##STR00083## ##STR00084## ##STR00085## ##STR00086## ##STR00087## ##STR00088## ##STR00089## ##STR00090## ##STR00091## ##STR00092## ##STR00093## ##STR00094##
HBL:

A hole blocking layer (HBL) may be used to reduce the number of holes and/or excitons that leave the emissive layer. The presence of such a blocking layer in a device may result in substantially higher efficiencies and/or longer lifetime as compared to a similar device lacking a blocking layer. Also, a blocking layer may be used to confine emission to a desired region of an OLED. In some embodiments, the HBL material has a lower HOMO (further from the vacuum level) and or higher triplet energy than the emitter closest to the HBL interface. In some embodiments, the HBL material has a lower HOMO (further from the vacuum level) and or higher triplet energy than one or more of the hosts closest to the HBL interface.

In one aspect, compound used in HBL contains the same molecule or the same functional groups used as host described above.

In another aspect, compound used in HBL contains at least one of the following groups in the molecule:

##STR00095##
wherein k is an integer from 1 to 20; L¹⁰¹ is an another ligand, k′ is an integer from 1 to 3.
ETL:

Electron transport layer (ETL) may include a material capable of transporting electrons. Electron transport layer may be intrinsic (undoped), or doped. Doping may be used to enhance conductivity. Examples of the ETL material are not particularly limited, and any metal complexes or organic compounds may be used as long as they are typically used to transport electrons.

In one aspect, compound used in ETL contains at least one of the following groups in the molecule:

##STR00096##
wherein R¹⁰¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof, when it is aryl or heteroaryl, it has the similar definition as Ar's mentioned above. Ar¹ to Ar³ has the similar definition as Ar's mentioned above. k is an integer from 1 to 20. X¹⁰¹ to X¹⁰⁸ is selected from C (including CH) or N.

In another aspect, the metal complexes used in ETL contains, but not limit to the following general formula:

##STR00097##
wherein (O—N) or (N—N) is a bidentate ligand, having metal coordinated to atoms O, N or N, N; L¹⁰¹ is another ligand; k′ is an integer value from 1 to the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal.

Non-limiting examples of the ETL materials that may be used in an OLED in combination with materials disclosed herein are exemplified below together with references that disclose those materials: CN103508940, EP01602648, EP01734038, EP01956007, JP2004-022334, JP2005149918, JP2005-268199, KR0117693, KR20130108183, US20040036077, US20070104977, US2007018155, US20090101870, US20090115316, US20090140637, US20090179554, US2009218940, US2010108990, US2011156017, US2011210320, US2012193612, US2012214993, US2014014925, US2014014927, US20140284580, U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,612, U.S. Pat. No. 8,415,031, WO2003060956, WO2007111263, WO2009148269, WO2010067894, WO2010072300, WO2011074770, WO2011105373, WO2013079217, WO2013145667, WO2013180376, WO2014104499, WO2014104535.

##STR00098## ##STR00099## ##STR00100## ##STR00101## ##STR00102## ##STR00103## ##STR00104## ##STR00105## ##STR00106## ##STR00107##
Charge Generation Layer (CGL)

In tandem or stacked OLEDs, the CGL plays an essential role in the performance, which is composed of an n-doped layer and a p-doped layer for injection of electrons and holes, respectively. Electrons and holes are supplied from the CGL and electrodes. The consumed electrons and holes in the CGL are refilled by the electrons and holes injected from the cathode and anode, respectively; then, the bipolar currents reach a steady state gradually. Typical CGL materials include n and p conductivity dopants used in the transport layers.

In any above-mentioned compounds used in each layer of the OLED device, the hydrogen atoms can be partially or fully deuterated. Thus, any specifically listed substituent, such as, without limitation, methyl, phenyl, pyridyl, etc. may be undeuterated, partially deuterated, and fully deuterated versions thereof. Similarly, classes of substituents such as, without limitation, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, etc. also may be undeuterated, partially deuterated, and fully deuterated versions thereof.

EXPERIMENTAL

Materials Synthesis

All reactions were carried out under nitrogen protections unless specified otherwise. All solvents for reactions are anhydrous and used as received from commercial sources.

Synthesis of Compound 3676

Synthesis of 4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-7-isopropylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine

##STR00108##

4-chloro-7-isopropylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine (4.50 g, 21.2 mmol). Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.73 g, 0.64 mmol), potassium carbonate (7.31 g, 52.9 mmol), tetrahydrofuran (THF) (200 ml), and water (50.0 ml) were combined in a flask. The mixture was degassed by bubbling nitrogen gas for 15 minutes and the reaction was then heated to reflux overnight. The reaction was extracted with ethyl acetate and washed with brine, dried with sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated down. The brown oil was purified with silica gel using DCM to 90/10 DCM % ethyl acetate solvent system. The orange oil was further purified with silica gel using 75/25 hept/ethyl acetate solvent system to get 5.50 g of a white solid for a 90% yield.

Synthesis of the Ir(III) Dimer

##STR00109##

4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-7-isopropylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine (3.07 g, 10.9 mmol) was inserted in a flask and was solubilized in 2-ethoxyethanol (40 mL) and Water (13 mL). The mixture was degassed by bubbling nitrogen gas for 15 minutes then IrCl₃H₈O₄ (1.15 g, 3.10 mmol) was inserted. The reaction was heated at 105° C. for 24 hours under nitrogen. The reaction was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 10 mL of MeOH, filtered and washed with MeOH to obtain 1.6 g of a solid for a 65% yield.

Synthesis of Compound 3676

##STR00110##

The Ir(III) dimer (1.00 g, 0.63 mmol), 3,7-diethylnonane-4,6-dione (1.34 g, 6.33 mmol) and 2-ethoxyethanol (15 ml) were combined in a flask. Nitrogen was bubbled into the suspension for 15 minutes and potassium carbonate (0.87 g, 6.33 mmol) was added. The rxn was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was filtered through celite using dichloromethane (DCM) and the filtrate was concentrated down. The solid was triturated in 100 mL of MeOH and the solid was filtered off. The solid was purified with silica gel (Pre-treated with Triethylamine) using 95/5 to 90/10 hept/DCM to afford 0.45 g of the title compound (37% yield).

Synthesis of Compound 6796

Synthesis of 6,7-dichloro-4-(3 dimethylphenyl)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine

##STR00111##

4,6,7-trichlorothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine (12.0 g, 50.1 mmol), (3,5-dimethylphenyl)boronic acid (8.27 g, 55.1 mmol), potassium carbonate (17.3 g, 125 mmol), THF (300 mL), and Water (75 mL) were combined in a flask. The solution was purged with nitrogen for 15 min then palladium tetrakis (1.74 g, 1.503 mmol) was added. The reaction was heated to reflux under nitrogen overnight. The reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 times), then washed with Brine and Water. The yellow solid was purified with silica gel using 90/10 hept/EtOac as the solvent system to afford a white solid. The sample was further purified with silica gel using DCM to 95/5 DCM/EtOac as the solvent system to get 8.4 g of a white solid for a 54% yield.

Synthesis of 4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-6,7-bis(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine

##STR00112##

6,7-dichloro-4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine (5.00 g, 16.2 mmol), palladium(II) acetate (0.73 g, 3.23 mmol), and 2′-(dicyclohexylphosphanyl)-N2,N2,N6,N6-tetramethyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2,6-diamine (CPhos) (2.82 g, 6.47 mmol) were combined in an oven dried flask. The system was purged with nitrogen then THF (50 mL) was added via syringe. The reaction was stirred for 15 min, then (3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)zinc(II) iodide (300 mL, 64.7 mmol) was added quickly via syringe. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and then it was quenched with sodium bicarbonate solution The mixture was extracted 3 times with ethyl acetate and the suspension was filtered through celite to remove the insoluble solids. The organic phase was washed twice with brine, dried with sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated down to a brown oil. The crude product was purified with silica gel using 90/10 heptanes/ethyl acetate to get a light brown oil. The sample was further purified with C18 columns using 70/30 to 90/10 acetonitrile/water as the solvent system to afford 2.56 g of a white solid for a 37% yield.

Synthesis of the Ir(III) Dimer

##STR00113##

4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-6,7-bis(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine (2.86 g, 6.61 mmol), 2-ethoxy ethanol (24 mL) and water (8 mL) were combined in a flask. Nitrogen was bubbled into the reaction for 15 minutes, then IrCl₃H₈O₄ (0.70 g, 1.89 mmol) was added. The reaction was heated at 105° C. overnight under nitrogen. The reaction was cooled and diluted with 10 mL of MeOH, filtered and washed with MeOH to afford 2.28 g (Quantitative Yield) of an orange-red solid.

Synthesis of Compound 6796

##STR00114##

The Ir(III) dimer (2.10 g, 1.59 mmol), 3,7-diethyl-5-methylnonane-4,6-dione (4.0 ml, 15.9 mmol) and 2-ethoxyethanol (30 ml) were combined in a flask. Nitrogen was bubbled into the suspension for 15 minutes then potassium carbonate (2.20 g, 15.9 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction was diluted in DCM and was filtered through celite. The red oil was triturated in 75 mL of hot MeOH, cooled to room temperature and then filtered off. The solid was purified with silica gel (Pre-treated with Triethylamine) using 95/5 to 85/15 of heptanes/DCM solvent system to afford 1.41 g of the title compound (35% yield).

Synthesis of Compound 6841

Synthesis of 6-bromo-4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-7-isopropylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine

##STR00115##

4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-7-isopropylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine (5.00 g, 17.7 mmol) was added to an oven-dried flask. The system was evacuated and purged with nitrogen three times. THF (200 mL) was added and the solution was cooled to −70° C., then 2.5 M butyllithium (8.5 mL, 21.3 mmol) was added dropwise. The reaction was stirred for three hours at this temperature, then dibromine (1.0 mL, 19.5 mmol) was added dropwise. The reaction was stirred for 30 minutes at −70° C. then it was allowed warm up to room temperature and stirred overnight. The mixture was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate and washed twice with brine, dried with sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated down to an orange-yellow solid. The crude product was purified with silica gel using 95/5 to 90/10 heptane/EtOac solvent system to obtain an off-white solid. The purification with silica gel was repeated using 97.5/2.5 to 95/5 heptane/EtOac solvent system to get 5.10 g of a white solid for an 80% yield.

Synthesis of 4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-7-isopropyl-6-(3,3,3-trifluoro-2,2-dimethylpropyl)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine

##STR00116##

6-bromo-4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-7-isopropylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine (4.50 g, 12.5 mmol), palladium(II) acetate (0.11 g, 0.50 mmol), and 2′-(dicyclohexylphosphanyl)-N2,N2,N6,N6-tetramethyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2,6-diamine (Cphos) (0.44 g, 1.00 mmol) were combined in an oven dried flask. The solids were solubilized in THF (50 mL) and the reaction was stirred for 15 min, then (3,3,3-trifluoro-2,2-dimethylpropyl)zinc(II) bromide (110 ml, 24.9 mmol) was added via syringe and the mixture was stirred overnight. The reaction was quenched with sodium bicarbonate solution, extracted with ethyl acetate (3 times). The combined organics were washed twice with brine, dried with sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated down. The crude product was purified with silica gel using 85/15 heptane/ethyl acetate to get 5.0 g of a brown oil. The product was purified again with silica gel using 97.5/2.5 to 95/5 heptane/ethyl acetate to get 4.1 g of a clear oil which changed to a white solid for an 80% yield.

Synthesis of the Ir(III) Dimer

##STR00117##

4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-7-isopropyl-6-(3,3,3-trifluoro-2,2-dimethylpropyl)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine (3.84 g, 9.44 mmol), 2-ethoxyethanol (34 mL), and water (11 mL were combined in a flask. The mixture was degassed by bubbling nitrogen gas for 15 minutes, then IrCl₃H₈O₄ (1.00 g, 2.70 mmol) was added. The reaction was heated at 105° C. for 24 hours. The reaction was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 30 ml MeOH, then the product was filtered and washed with MeOH to afford 2.50 g (Quantitative yield).

Synthesis of Compound 6841

##STR00118##

The Ir(II) dimer (2.00 g, 1.58 mmol), 3,7-diethyl-5-methylnonane-4,6-dione (3.58 g, 15.8 mmol) and 2-ethoxyethanol (30 ml) were combined in a flask. Nitrogen was bubbled into the suspension for 15 min. and then potassium carbonate (2.18 g, 15.8 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was filtered through celite using DCM and the filtrate was concentrated down. The solid was triturated in 100 mL of MeOH and the solid was filtered off. The solid was purified with silica gel (Pre-treated with Triethylamine) using 90/10 hept/DCM to afford 1.20 g of the title compound (31% yield).

Synthesis of Compound 6836

##STR00119##

The Ir(III) dimer (1.80 g, 1.14 mmol), 3,7-diethyl-5-methylnonane-4,6-dione (2.9 mL, 11.4 mmol) and 2-ethoxyethanol (25 ml) were combined in a flask. Nitrogen was bubbled into the suspension for 15 minutes and then potassium carbonate (1.57 g, 11.4 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was filtered through celite using DCM and the filtrate was concentrated down. The solid was triturated in 100 mL of MeOH and was filtered off. The crude product was purified with silica gel (Pre-treated with Triethylamine) using 95/5 to 90/10 heptanes/DCM to afford 1.20 g of the title compound (54% yield).

Synthesis of Comparative Compound 1

Synthesis of the Ir(III) Dimer

##STR00120##

7-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)thieno[2,3-c]pyridine (2.063 g, 8.62 mmol) was solubilized in Ethoxyethanol (26 mL) and Water (9 mL). The mixture was degassed by bubbling nitrogen gas for 15 minutes and then iridium(II) chloride trihydrate (0.80 g, 2.269 mmol) was inserted and the reaction was heated at 105° C. for 24 hours. The reaction was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 10 mL of MeOH, filtered and washed with MeOH to afford 1.20 g (75% yield) of the product.

Synthesis of Comparative Compound 1

##STR00121##

The Ir(III) Dimer (1.15 g, 0.82 mmol), 3,7-diethylnonane-4,6-dione (1.30 g, 6.12 mmol) and 2-ethoxyethanol (14 mL) were combined and the mixture was purged with nitrogen for 15 minutes Potassium carbonate (0.85 g, 6.12 mmol) was added and the reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was solubilized in DCM and filtered through a pad of Celite. The solvent were rotovaped down and the mixture was triturated from methanol and filtered. The crude material was further purified via column chromatography (pre-treated with triethylamine) using a Heptanes % DCM (95/5) solvent system. The product was then recrystallized from a DCM/MeOH mixture to afford 1.30 g (90%/o yield) of an orange powder.

Device Examples

All example devices were fabricated by high vacuum (<10⁻⁷ Torr) thermal evaporation. The anode electrode was 1150 Å of indium tin oxide (ITO). The cathode consisted of 10 Å of Liq (8-hydroxyquinoline lithium) followed by 1,000 Å of Al. All devices were encapsulated with a glass lid sealed with an epoxy resin in a nitrogen glove box (<1 ppm of H₂O and O₂) immediately after fabrication, and a moisture getter was incorporated inside the package. The organic stack of the device examples consisted of sequentially, from the ITO surface, 100 Å of LG101 (purchased from LG chem) as the hole injection layer (HIL); 400 Å of HTM as a hole transporting layer (HTL); 300 Å of an emissive layer (EML) containing Compound H as a host (a stability dopant (SD) (18%), and Comparative Compound 1 or Compounds 3676, 6836, and 6841 as the emitter (3%); 100 Å of Compound H as a blocking layer; and 350 Å of Liq (8-hydroxyquinoline lithium) doped with 40% of ETM as the ETL. The emitter was selected to provide the desired color, efficiency and lifetime. The stability dopant (SD) was added to the electron-transporting host to help transport positive charge in the emissive layer. The Comparative Example device was fabricated similarly to the device examples except that Comparative Compound 1 was used as the emitter in the EML. Table 3 below shows the device layer thickness and materials. The chemical structures of the materials used in the devices are shown in Table 5 below.

The device performance data are summarized in Table 4 below. Inventive compounds have much longer lifetime vs. comparative compound 1. Also Compounds 3676, 6836, and 6841 have superior performance to Comparative Compound 1 in color saturation as a red shift of 28 to 38 nm was observed. Moreover, the inventive compounds afforded either similar or higher EQE than Comparative Compound 1.

TABLE 3
Device layer materials and thicknesses
	Layer	Material	Thickness [Å]
	Anode	ITO	1150
	HIL	LG101 (LG Chem)	100
	HTL	HTM	400
	EML	Compound H: SD 18%:	300
		Emitter 3%
	BL	Compound H	100
	ETL	Liq: ETM 40%	350
	EIL	Liq	10
	Cathode	Al	1000

TABLE 4
Device performance data
					At 10 mA/cm2	At 80 mA/cm2
Device		1931 CIE	λ max	FWHM	Voltage	EQE	LT95%
Example	Emitter	x	y	[nm]	[nm]	[V]	[%]	[h]
Example 1	Compound	0.649	0.349	618	54	1.00	1.04	11.5
	6841
Example 2	Compound	0.650	0.348	617	59	1.00	0.92	9.82
	6836
Example 3	Compound	0.629	0.369	608	55	1.03	1.00	7.91
	3676
CE1	Comparative	0.547	0.451	580	48	1.00	1.00	1
	Compound 1

TABLE 5

Materials used in the OLED devices


##STR00122## COMPOUND H

##STR00123##

##STR00124## Comparative Compound 1

##STR00125##

##STR00126##

##STR00127##

##STR00128## Compound 6841

##STR00129## Compound 6836

##STR00130## Compound 3676

It is understood that the various embodiments described herein are by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. For example, many of the materials and structures described herein may be substituted with other materials and structures without deviating from the spirit of the invention. The present invention as claimed may therefore include variations from the particular examples and preferred embodiments described herein, as will be apparent to one of skill in the art. It is understood that various theories as to why the invention works are not intended to be limiting.

Claims

1. A compound comprising a ligand l_A of formula I:

2. The compound of claim 1, wherein m is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Rh, Re, Ru, Os, Pt, Au, and Cu.

3. The compound of claim 1, wherein the ligand l_A is selected from the group consisting of:

4. The compound of claim 1, wherein the ligand l_A is:

5. The compound of claim 1, wherein at least one of R³ and R⁴ is a chemical group selected from the group consisting of partially fluorinated alkyl, partially fluorinated cycloalkyl, and combinations thereof.

6. The compound of claim 1, wherein R³ and R⁴ are not hydrogen.

7. The compound of claim 1, wherein at least one of X¹, X², X³, and X⁴ is nitrogen.

8. The compound of claim 1, wherein at least one of R³ and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of:

9. The compound of claim 1, wherein R³ and R⁴ are joined to form a ring structure selected from the group consisting of:

10. The compound of claim 1, wherein the ligand l_A is selected from the group consisting of:

11. The compound of claim 8, wherein the ligand l_A is selected from the group consisting of l_A1 through l_A750 defined as follows:

l_A1 through l_A375 are based on a structure of formula IV,

12. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound has a structure of formula III, (l_A)_nIr(l_B)_3-n, wherein l_B is a bidentate ligand and n is 1, 2, or 3.

13. The compound of claim 12, wherein the ligand l_B is selected from the group consisting of:

14. The compound of claim 11, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of compound 1 through compound 12,750;

wherein each compound x has the formula Ir(l_Ak)₂(l_Bj);

wherein x=750j+k−750, k is an integer from 1 to 750, and j is an integer from 1 to 17; and

15. A first device comprising a first organic light emitting device, the first organic light emitting device comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

an organic layer, disposed between the anode and the cathode, comprising a compound comprising a ligand l_A of formula I:

16. The first device of claim 15, wherein the first device is selected from the group consisting of a consumer product, an electronic component module, an organic light-emitting device, and a lighting panel.

17. The first device of claim 15, wherein the organic layer is an emissive layer and the compound is an emissive dopant or a non-emissive dopant.

18. The first device of claim 15, wherein the organic layer further comprises a host, wherein host comprises at least one chemical group selected from the group consisting of carbazole, dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene, azacarbazole, aza-dibenzothiophene, aza-dibenzofuran, and aza-dibenzoselenophene.

19. The first device of claim 15, wherein the organic layer further comprises a host, wherein the host is selected from the group consisting of:

20. A formulation comprising a compound comprising a ligand l_A of formula I: