COMPOUNDS WITH SPIROBIFLUORENE-STRUCTURES

Abstract

The present invention describes spirobifluorene derivatives substituted by pyridine and/or pyrimidine groups, especially for use in electronic devices. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the compounds of the invention and to electronic devices comprising these.

Description

The present invention describes spirobifluorene derivatives substituted by pyridine and/or pyrimidine groups, especially for use in electronic devices. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the compounds of the invention and to electronic devices comprising these compounds.

The structure of organic electroluminescent devices (OLEDs) in which organic semiconductors are used as functional materials is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,507, 5,151,629, EP 0676461 and WO 98/27136.

Emitting materials used are frequently organometallic complexes which exhibit phosphorescence. For quantum-mechanical reasons, up to four times the energy efficiency and power efficiency is possible using organometallic compounds as phosphorescent emitters. In general terms, there is still a need for improvement in OLEDs, especially also in OLEDs which exhibit phosphorescence, for example with regard to efficiency, operating voltage and lifetime.

The properties of organic electroluminescent devices are not only determined by the emitters used. Also of particular significance here are especially the other materials used, such as host and matrix materials, hole blocker materials, electron transport materials, hole transport materials and electron or exciton blocker materials. Improvements to these materials can lead to distinct improvements to electroluminescent devices.

Frequently used according to the prior art as matrix materials for phosphorescent compounds and as electron transport materials are heteroaromatic compounds, for example triazine derivatives or benzimidazole derivatives. Known derivatives for this function are, for example, spirobifluorene derivatives substituted in the 2 position by triazine groups, as disclosed in WO 2010/015306 and WO 2010/072300. In addition, US 2004/147742 and WO 2005/053055 describe spirobifluorene derivatives substituted by pyrimidine groups in the 2 position. However, the pyrimidine radicals are bonded directly to the spirobifluorene group. In addition, EP 2468731 discloses heterocyclic compounds having fluorene structures. Similar compounds are additionally known from WO 2013/191429 and EP 2108689.

In general terms, in the case of these materials, for example for use as matrix materials, there is still a need for improvement, particularly in relation to the lifetime, but also in relation to the efficiency and operating voltage of the device.

The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore that of providing compounds which are suitable for use in an organic electronic device, especially in an organic electroluminescent device, and which lead to good device properties when used in this device, and that of providing the corresponding electronic device.

More particularly, the problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing compounds which lead to a high lifetime, good efficiency and low operating voltage. Particularly the properties of the matrix materials too have an essential influence on the lifetime and efficiency of the organic electroluminescent device.

A further problem addressed by the present invention can be considered that of providing compounds suitable for use in a phosphorescent or fluorescent OLED, especially as a matrix material. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide matrix materials suitable for red-, yellow- and green-phosphorescing OLEDs and possibly also for blue-phosphorescing OLEDs.

Moreover, the compounds should be processable in a very simple manner, and especially exhibit good solubility and film formation. For example, the compounds should exhibit elevated oxidation stability and an improved glass transition temperature.

A further object can be considered that of providing electronic devices having excellent performance very inexpensively and in constant quality.

Furthermore, it should be possible to use or adapt the electronic devices for many purposes. More particularly, the performance of the electronic devices should be maintained over a broad temperature range.

It has been found that, surprisingly, particular compounds that are described in detail hereinafter solve these problems and eliminate the disadvantage from the prior art. The use of the compounds leads to very good properties of organic electronic devices, especially of organic electroluminescent devices, especially with regard to lifetime, efficiency and operating voltage. Electronic devices, especially organic electroluminescent devices, containing such compounds, and the corresponding preferred embodiments, are therefore provided by the present invention.

The present invention therefore provides a compound of the following formula (I):

where the symbols used are as follows:

• X is the same or different at each instance and is N or CR¹, preferably CR¹, with the proviso that not more than two of the X groups in one cycle are N, or C is the bonding site of the L¹ group;
• Q is a pyrimidine or pyridine group which may be substituted in each case by one or more R¹ radicals;
• L¹ is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 5 to 24 aromatic or heteroaromatic ring atoms and may be substituted by one or more R¹ radicals, where the aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system having 5 to 24 aromatic or heteroaromatic ring atoms comprises not more than 2 nitrogen atoms;
• R¹ is the same or different at each instance and is H, D, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, Si(R²)₃, a straight-chain alkyl, alkoxy or thioalkoxy group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms or a branched or cyclic alkyl, alkoxy or thioalkoxy group having 3 to 40 carbon atoms, each of which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, where one or more nonadjacent CH₂ groups in each case may be replaced
  •  by —R²C═CR²—, —C≡C—, Si(R²)₂, C═O, C═S,
  •  C═NR², —C(═O)O—, —C(═O)NR²—, NR², P(═O)(R²), —O—, —S—, SO or SO₂ and where one or more hydrogen atoms may be replaced by D, F, Cl, Br, I, CN or NO₂, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 5 to 40 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, an aryloxy or heteroaryloxy group which has 5 to 60 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, or an aralkyl group which has 5 to 60 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, or a combination of these systems, where two or more adjacent R¹ substituents may optionally form a mono- or polycyclic, aliphatic or aromatic ring system which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals;
• R² is the same or different at each instance and is H, D, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, Si(R²)₃, a straight-chain alkyl, alkoxy or thioalkoxy group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms or a branched or cyclic alkyl, alkoxy or thioalkoxy group having 3 to 40 carbon atoms, each of which may be substituted by one or more R³ radicals, where one or more nonadjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —R³C═CR³—, —C≡C—, Si(R³)₂, C═O, C═S, C═NR³, —C(═O)O—, —C(═O)NR³—, NR³, P(═O)(R³), —O—, —S—, SO or SO₂ and where one or more hydrogen atoms may be replaced by D, F, Cl, Br, I, CN or NO₂, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 5 to 40 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted in each case by one or more R³ radicals, or an aryloxy or heteroaryloxy group which has 5 to 60 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted by one or more R³ radicals, or an aralkyl group which has 5 to 60 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, or a combination of these systems, where two or more adjacent R² substituents may optionally form a mono- or polycyclic, aliphatic or aromatic ring system which may be substituted by one or more R³ radicals;
• R³ is the same or different at each instance and is H, D, F or an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be replaced by D or F, or an aromatic and/or heteroaromatic ring system having 5 to 30 carbon atoms, in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be replaced by D or F, where two or more adjacent R³ substituents may optionally form a mono- or polycyclic, aliphatic or aromatic ring system.

Adjacent carbon atoms in the context of the present invention are carbon atoms bonded directly to one another. In addition, “adjacent radicals” in the definition of the radicals means that these radicals are bonded to the same carbon atom or to adjacent carbon atoms. These definitions apply correspondingly, inter alia, to the terms “adjacent groups” and “adjacent substituents”.

The wording that two or more radicals together may form a ring, in the context of the present description, shall be understood to mean, inter alia, that the two radicals are joined to one another by a chemical bond with formal elimination of two hydrogen atoms. This is illustrated by the following scheme:

In addition, however, the abovementioned wording shall also be understood to mean that, if one of the two radicals is hydrogen, the second radical binds to the position to which the hydrogen atom was bonded, forming a ring. This shall be illustrated by the following scheme:

A fused aryl group, a fused aromatic ring system or a fused heteroaromatic ring system in the context of the present invention is a group in which two or more aromatic groups are fused, i.e. annelated, to one another along a common edge, such that, for example, two carbon atoms belong to the at least two aromatic or heteroaromatic rings, as, for example, in naphthalene. By contrast, for example, fluorene is not a fused aryl group in the context of the present invention, since the two aromatic groups in fluorene do not have a common edge. Corresponding definitions apply to heteroaryl groups and to fused ring systems which may but need not also contain heteroatoms.

An aryl group in the context of this invention contains 6 to 40 carbon atoms; a heteroaryl group in the context of this invention contains 2 to 40 carbon atoms and at least one heteroatom, with the proviso that the sum total of carbon atoms and heteroatoms is at least 5. The heteroatoms are preferably selected from N, O and/or S. An aryl group or heteroaryl group is understood here to mean either a simple aromatic cycle, i.e. benzene, or a simple heteroaromatic cycle, for example pyridine, pyrimidine, thiophene, etc., or a fused aryl or heteroaryl group, for example naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, quinoline, isoquinoline, etc.

An aromatic ring system in the context of this invention contains 6 to 40 carbon atoms in the ring system. A heteroaromatic ring system in the context of this invention contains 1 to 40 carbon atoms and at least one heteroatom in the ring system, with the proviso that the sum total of carbon atoms and heteroatoms is at least 5. The heteroatoms are preferably selected from N, O and/or S. An aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system in the context of this invention shall be understood to mean a system which does not necessarily contain only aryl or heteroaryl groups, but in which it is also possible for two or more aryl or heteroaryl groups to be interrupted by a nonaromatic unit (preferably less than 10% of the atoms other than H), for example a carbon, nitrogen or oxygen atom or a carbonyl group. For example, systems such as 9,9′-spirobifluorene, 9,9-diarylfluorene, triarylamine, diaryl ethers, stilbene, etc. shall thus also be regarded as aromatic ring systems in the context of this invention, and likewise systems in which two or more aryl groups are interrupted, for example, by a linear or cyclic alkyl group or by a silyl group. In addition, systems in which two or more aryl or heteroaryl groups are bonded directly to one another, for example biphenyl, terphenyl, quaterphenyl or bipyridine, shall likewise be regarded as an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system.

A cyclic alkyl, alkoxy or thioalkoxy group in the context of this invention is understood to mean a monocyclic, bicyclic or polycyclic group.

In the context of the present invention, a C₁- to C₂₀-alkyl group in which individual hydrogen atoms or CH₂ groups may also be substituted by the abovementioned groups is understood to mean, for example, the methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, cyclopropyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, cyclobutyl, 2-methylbutyl, n-pentyl, s-pentyl, t-pentyl, 2-pentyl, neopentyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, s-hexyl, t-hexyl, 2-hexyl, 3-hexyl, neohexyl, cyclohexyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 2-methylpentyl, n-heptyl, 2-heptyl, 3-heptyl, 4-heptyl, cycloheptyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, cyclooctyl, 1-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, 2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, 2-(2,6-dimethyl)octyl, 3-(3,7-dimethyl)octyl, adamantyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-hex-1-yl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-hept-1-yl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-oct-1-yl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-dec-1-yl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-dodec-1-yl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-tetradec-1-yl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-hexadec-1-yl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-octadec-1-yl, 1,1-diethyl-n-hex-1-yl, 1,1-diethyl-n-hept-1-yl, 1,1-diethyl-n-oct-1-yl, 1,1-diethyl-n-dec-1-yl, 1,1-diethyl-n-dodec-1-yl, 1,1-diethyl-n-tetradec-1-yl, 1,1-diethyl-n-hexadec-1-yl, 1,1-diethyl-n-octadec-1-yl, 1-(n-propyl)cyclohex-1-yl, 1-(n-butyl)cyclohex-1-yl, 1-(n-hexyl)cyclohex-1-yl, 1-(n-octyl)cyclohex-1-yl and 1-(n-decyl)cyclohex-1-yl radicals. An alkenyl group is understood to mean, for example, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, cyclopentenyl, hexenyl, cyclohexenyl, heptenyl, cycloheptenyl, octenyl, cyclooctenyl or cyclooctadienyl. An alkynyl group is understood to mean, for example, ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, heptynyl or octynyl. A C₁- to C₄₀-alkoxy group is understood to mean, for example, methoxy, trifluoromethoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, i-propoxy, n-butoxy, i-butoxy, s-butoxy, t-butoxy or 2-methylbutoxy.

An aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 5-40 aromatic ring atoms and may also be substituted in each case by the abovementioned radicals and which may be joined to the aromatic or heteroaromatic system via any desired positions is understood to mean, for example, groups derived from benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, benzanthracene, phenanthrene, benzophenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene, perylene, fluoranthene, benzofluoranthene, naphthacene, pentacene, benzopyrene, biphenyl, biphenylene, terphenyl, terphenylene, fluorene, spirobifluorene, dihydrophenanthrene, dihydropyrene, tetrahydropyrene, cis- or trans-indenofluorene, cis- or trans-monobenzoindenofluorene, cis- or trans-dibenzoindenofluorene, truxene, isotruxene, spirotruxene, spiroisotruxene, furan, benzofuran, isobenzofuran, dibenzofuran, thiophene, benzothiophene, isobenzothiophene, dibenzothiophene, pyrrole, indole, isoindole, carbazole, indolocarbazole, indenocarbazole, pyridine, quinoline, isoquinoline, acridine, phenanthridine, benzo-5,6-quinoline, benzo-6,7-quinoline, benzo-7,8-quinoline, phenothiazine, phenoxazine, pyrazole, indazole, imidazole, benzimidazole, naphthimidazole, phenanthrimidazole, pyridimidazole, pyrazinimidazole, quinoxalinimidazole, oxazole, benzoxazole, naphthoxazole, anthroxazole, phenanthroxazole, isoxazole, 1,2-thiazole, 1,3-thiazole, benzothiazole, pyridazine, benzopyridazine, pyrimidine, benzopyrimidine, quinoxaline, 1,5-diazaanthracene, 2,7-diazapyrene, 2,3-diazapyrene, 1,6-diazapyrene, 1,8-diazapyrene, 4,5-diazapyrene, 4,5,9,10-tetraazaperylene, pyrazine, phenazine, phenoxazine, phenothiazine, fluorubine, naphthyridine, azacarbazole, benzocarboline, phenanthroline, 1,2,3-triazole, 1,2,4-triazole, benzotriazole, 1,2,3-oxadiazole, 1,2,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,5-oxadiazole, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,3-thiadiazole, 1,2,4-thiadiazole, 1,2,5-thiadiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole, 1,3,5-triazine, 1,2,4-triazine, 1,2,3-triazine, tetrazole, 1,2,4,5-tetrazine, 1,2,3,4-tetrazine, 1,2,3,5-tetrazine, purine, pteridine, indolizine and benzothiadiazole.

In a preferred configuration, the compounds of the invention may form a structure of formula (Ia), (Ib), (Ic) and/or (Id)

in whichthe symbols X, L¹ and Q have the definition given above, especially for formula (I). In this context, preference is given to compounds having structures of the formulae (Ia), (Ib) and/or (Ic), particular preference being given to compounds having structures of the formula (Ia).

Preferably, the compounds of the invention may comprise structures of formula (II), preferably formulae (IIa), (IIb), (IIc) and/or (IId)

in whichthe symbols X, L¹ and Q have the definition given above, especially for formula (I). In this context, preference is given to compounds having structures of the formulae (IIa), (IIb) and/or (IIc), particular preference being given to compounds having structures of the formula (IIa).

Furthermore, preference is given to compounds which are characterized in that, in formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc) and/or (IId), not more than two X groups are N and preferably not more than one X group is N, and preferably all X are CR¹, where preferably at most 4, more preferably at most 3 and especially preferably at most 2 of the CR¹ groups that X represents are not the CH group.

It may further be the case that the R¹ radicals of the X groups in the formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc) and/or (IId) do not form a fused aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system, and preferably do not form any fused ring system, with the ring atoms of the spirobifluorene structure. This includes the formation of a fused ring system with possible R², R³ substituents which may be bonded to the R¹ radicals. It may preferably be the case that the R¹ radicals of the X groups in the formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc) and/or (IId) do not form any ring system with the ring atoms of the spirobifluorene structure. This includes the formation of a ring system with possible R², R³ substituents which may be bonded to the R¹ radicals.

Preferably, the compounds of the invention may comprise structures of formula (III), preferably formulae (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc) and/or (IIId)

in which the symbols R¹, L¹ and Q have the definition set out above, especially for formula (I), m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, preferably 0, 1 or 2, and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, preferably 0, 1 or 2. In this context, preference is given to compounds having structures of the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) and/or (IIIc), particular preference being given to compounds having structures of the formula (IIIa).

Preferably, the compounds of the invention may comprise structures of formula (IV), preferably formulae (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd)

in which the symbols R¹, L¹ and Q have the definition set out above, especially for formula (I), m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, preferably 0, 1 or 2, and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, preferably 0, 1 or 2. In this context, preference is given to compounds having structures of the formulae (IVa), (IVb) and/or (IVc), particular preference being given to compounds having structures of the formula (IVa).

Compounds of the formulae (Ic), (IIc), (IIIc) and (IVc) are particularly preferred here.

It may additionally be the case that the R¹ substituents of the spirobifluorene structure in the formulae (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) do not form a fused aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system, and preferably do not form any fused ring system, with the ring atoms of the spirobifluorene structure. This includes the formation of a fused ring system with possible R², R³ substituents which may be bonded to the R¹ radicals. It may preferably be the case that the R¹ substituents of the spirobifluorene structure in the formulae (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) do not form any ring system with the ring atoms of the spirobifluorene structure. This includes the formation of a ring system with possible R², R³ substituents which may be bonded to the R¹ radicals.

It may further be the case that the sum total of the indices m and n in the structures of the formulae (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) is in each case not more than 3, preferably not more than 2 and more preferably not more than 1.

In a preferred configuration, compounds comprising structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) can be represented by structures of the formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd). Preferably, compounds comprising structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) have a molecular weight of not more than 5000 g/mol, preferably not more than 4000 g/mol, particularly preferably not more than 3000 g/mol, especially preferably not more than 2000 g/mol and most preferably not more than 1200 g/mol.

In addition, it is a feature of preferred compounds of the invention that they are sublimable. These compounds generally have a molar mass of less than about 1200 g/mol.

The Q group is a pyrimidine or pyridine group which may be substituted in each case by one or more R¹ radicals. A pyrimidine or pyridine group comprises at least one heteroaromatic ring having 6 ring atoms and one or two nitrogen atoms. Triazine groups are not a pyrimidine or pyridine group since they comprise three nitrogen atoms in the heteroaromatic ring.

It may preferably be the case that the Q group shown in formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) is selected from structures of the formulae (Q-1), (Q-2), (Q-3) and/or (Q-4)

where the symbols X and R¹ have the definition given above, especially for formula (I), and the dotted bond marks the attachment position, where X is preferably a nitrogen atom.

Preferably, the Q group shown inter alia in the formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) may be selected from structures of the formulae (Q-5), (Q-6), (Q-7), (Q-8), (Q-9) and/or (Q-10)

in which the symbol R¹ has the definition set out above for formula (I) inter alia, the dotted bond marks the attachment position and m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, preferably 0, 1 or 2, and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, preferably 0, 1 or 2, preference being given to the structures of the formulae (Q-8), (Q-9) and (Q-10).

In a further embodiment, the Q group shown inter alia in the formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) may be selected from structures of the formulae (Q-11), (Q-12), (Q-13) and/or (Q-14)

in which the symbol R¹ has the definition set out above for formula (I) inter alia and the dotted bond marks the attachment position, preference being given to the structures of the formulae (Q-13) and (Q-14).

Preference is further given to compounds which are characterized in that the R¹ radicals which are shown in the structures of the formulae (Q-1), (Q-2), (Q-4), (Q-5), (Q-6), (Q-7), (Q-8), (Q-9), (Q-10), (Q-11), (Q-12), (Q-13) and/or (Q-14) inter alia and may be bonded to the pyridine or pyrimidine group do not form a fused aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system, and preferably do not form any fused ring system, with the ring atoms of the pyridine or pyrimidine group. This includes the formation of a fused ring system with possible R², R³ substituents which may be bonded to the R¹ radicals.

In a further configuration, it may be the case that the R¹ radicals which are shown in the structures of the formulae (Q-1), (Q-2), (Q-4), (Q-5), (Q-6), (Q-7), (Q-8), (Q-9), (Q-10), (Q-11), (Q-12), (Q-13) and/or (Q-14) inter alia and may be bonded to the pyridine or pyrimidine group have not more than 2 nitrogen atoms, preferably not more than 1 nitrogen atom, especially preferably not more than 2 heteroatoms, and more preferably no heteroatom.

When X is CR¹ or when the aromatic and/or heteroaromatic groups are substituted by R¹ substituents, these R¹ substituents are preferably selected from the group consisting of H, D, F, CN, N(Ar¹)₂, C(═O)Ar¹, P(═O)(Ar¹)₂, a straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or a branched or cyclic alkyl or alkoxy group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, each of which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, where one or more nonadjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by 0 and where one or more hydrogen atoms may be replaced by D or F, an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 5 to 24 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted, or an aralkyl or heteroaralkyl group which has 5 to 25 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted by one or more R² radicals; at the same time, it is optionally possible for two R¹ substituents bonded to the same carbon atom or to adjacent carbon atoms to form a monocyclic or polycyclic, aliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which may be substituted by one or more R¹ radicals, where Ar¹ is the same or different at each instance and represents an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 6 to 40 carbon atoms and may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, an aryloxy group which has 5 to 60 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, or an aralkyl group which has 5 to 60 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, where two or more adjacent R² substituents may optionally form a mono- or polycyclic aliphatic ring system which may be substituted by one or more R³ radicals, where the symbol R² has the definition given above, especially for formula (I). Preferably, Ar¹ is the same or different at each instance and is an aryl or heteroaryl group which has 5 to 24 and preferably 5 to 12 aromatic ring atoms, and may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted.

Examples of suitable Ar¹ groups are selected from the group consisting of phenyl, ortho-, meta- or para-biphenyl, terphenyl, especially branched terphenyl, quaterphenyl, especially branched quaterphenyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-fluorenyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-spirobifluorenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-dibenzofuranyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-dibenzothienyl and 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-carbazolyl, each of which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, but are preferably unsubstituted.

More preferably, these R¹ substituents are selected from the group consisting of H, D, F, CN, N(Ar¹)₂, a straight-chain alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably having 1, 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms, or a branched or cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably having 3 or 4 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably having 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms, each of which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 6 to 24 aromatic ring atoms, preferably 6 to 18 aromatic ring atoms, more preferably 6 to 13 aromatic ring atoms, and may be substituted in each case by one or more nonaromatic R¹ radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted; at the same time, it is optionally possible for two R¹ substituents bonded to the same carbon atom or to adjacent carbon atoms to form a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic ring system which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted, where Ar¹ may have the definition set out above.

Most preferably, the R¹ substituents are selected from the group consisting of H and an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 6 to 18 aromatic ring atoms, preferably 6 to 13 aromatic ring atoms, and may be substituted in each case by one or more nonaromatic R² radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted. Examples of suitable R¹ substituents are selected from the group consisting of phenyl, ortho-, meta- or para-biphenyl, terphenyl, especially branched terphenyl, quaterphenyl, especially branched quaterphenyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-fluorenyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-spirobifluorenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-dibenzofuranyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-dibenzothienyl and 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-carbazolyl, each of which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, but are preferably unsubstituted.

It may additionally be the case that, in a structure of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd), at least one R¹ radical is a group selected from the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80)

where the symbols used are as follows:Y is O, S or NR², preferably O or S;i at each instance is independently 0, 1 or 2;i at each instance is independently 0, 1, 2 or 3;h at each instance is independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;g at each instance is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;R² may have the definition given above, especially for formula (I), and the dotted bond marks the attachment position.

It may preferably be the case that the sum total of the indices i, j, h and g in the structures of the formula (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) is not more than 3 in each case, preferably not more than 2 and more preferably not more than 1.

Preferably, the R² radicals in the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) do not form a fused aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system, and preferably do not form any fused ring system, with the ring atoms of the aryl group or heteroaryl group to which the R² radicals are bonded. This includes the formation of a fused ring system with possible R³ substituents which may be bonded to the R² radicals.

Preferably, the L¹ group can form through-conjugation with the Q group and the aromatic or heteroaromatic radical of the spirobifluorene group to which the L¹ group of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) is bonded. Through-conjugation of the aromatic or heteroaromatic systems is formed as soon as direct bonds are formed between adjacent aromatic or heteroaromatic rings. A further bond between the aforementioned conjugated groups, for example via a sulphur, nitrogen or oxygen atom or a carbonyl group, is not detrimental to conjugation. In the case of a fluorene system, the two aromatic rings are bonded directly, where the sp³-hybridized carbon atom in position 9 does prevent fusion of these rings, but conjugation is possible, since this sp³-hybridized carbon atom in position 9 does not necessarily lie between the electron-transporting Q group and the fluorene structure. In contrast, in the case of a second spirobifluorene structure, through-conjugation can be formed if the bond between the Q group and the aromatic or heteroaromatic radical of the spirobifluorene group of the formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) is via the same phenyl group in the spirobifluorene structure or via phenyl groups in the spirobifluorene structure that are bonded directly to one another and are in one plane. If the bond between the Q group and the aromatic or heteroaromatic radical of the spirobifluorene group of the formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) is via different phenyl groups of the second spirobifluorene structure joined via the sp³-hybridized carbon atom in position 9, the conjugation is interrupted.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, L¹ is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 5 to 14 aromatic or heteroaromatic ring atoms, preferably an aromatic ring system which has 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and which may be substituted by one or more R¹ radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted, where R¹ may have the definition given above, especially for formula (I). More preferably, L¹ is an aromatic ring system having 6 to 10 aromatic ring atoms or a heteroaromatic ring system having 6 to 13 heteroaromatic ring atoms, each of which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted, where R² may have the definition given above, especially for formula (I).

Additionally preferably, the symbol L¹ shown in the structures of formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) inter alia is the same or different at each instance and is an aryl or heteroaryl radical having 5 to 24 ring atoms, preferably 6 to 13 ring atoms, more preferably 6 to 10 ring atoms, such that an aromatic or heteroaromatic group of an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system is bonded directly, i.e. via an atom of the aromatic or heteroaromatic group, to the respective atom of the further group.

It may additionally be the case that the L¹ group shown in the structures of formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) inter alia comprises an aromatic ring system having not more than two fused aromatic and/or heteroaromatic rings, preferably not having a fused aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system. Accordingly, naphthyl structures are preferred over anthracene structures. In addition, fluorenyl, spirobifluorenyl, dibenzofuranyl and/or dibenzothienyl structures are preferred over naphthyl structures.

Particular preference is given to structures having no fusion, for example phenyl, biphenyl, terphenyl and/or quaterphenyl structures.

Examples of suitable aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems L¹ are selected from the group consisting of ortho-, meta- or para-phenylene, ortho-, meta- or para-biphenylene, terphenylene, especially branched terphenylene, quaterphenylene, especially branched quaterphenylene, fluorenylene, spirobifluorenylene, dibenzofuranylene, dibenzothienylene and carbazolylene, each of which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, but are preferably unsubstituted.

It may further be the case that the L¹ group shown in the structures of formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) inter alia has not more than 1 nitrogen atom, preferably not more than 2 heteroatoms, especially preferably not more than one heteroatom and more preferably no heteroatom.

Preference is given to compounds comprising structures of the formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) in which the L¹ group of formulae (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) is a group selected from the formulae (L¹-1) to (L¹-108)

where the dotted bonds in each case mark the attachment positions, the index k is 0 or 1, the index I is 0, 1 or 2, the index j at each instance is independently 0, 1, 2 or 3; the index h at each instance is independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, the index g is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; the symbol Y is O, S or NR², preferably O or S; and the symbol R² has the definition given above, especially for formula (I).

It may preferably be the case that the sum total of the indices k, I, g, h and j in the structures of the formula (L¹-1) to (L¹-108) is at most 3 in each case, preferably at most 2 and more preferably at most 1.

Preferred compounds according to the invention comprise an L¹ group selected from one of the formulae (L¹-1) to (L¹-78) and/or (L¹-92) to (L¹-108), preferably of the formula (L¹-1) to (L¹-54) and/or (L¹-92) to (L¹-108), especially preferably of the formula (L¹-1) to (L¹-29) and/or (L¹-92) to (L¹-103). Advantageously, the sum total of the indices k, I, g, h and j in the structures of the formulae (L¹-1) to (L¹-78) and/or (L¹-92) to (L¹-108), preferably of the formula (L¹-1) to (L¹-54) and/or (L¹-92) to (L¹-108), especially preferably of the formula (L¹-1) to (L¹-29) and/or (L¹-92) to (L¹-103), is in each case not more than 3, preferably not more than 2 and more preferably not more than 1.

It is further preferable when L¹ is selected from the groups of the formulae (L¹-17) to (L¹-108), very preferably from the groups of the formulae (L¹-30) to (L¹-108), even more preferably from the groups of the formulae (L¹-30) to (L¹-52), (L¹-55) to (L¹-60), (L¹-73) to (L¹-91) and (L¹-103) to (L¹-108) and especially preferably from the groups of the formulae (L¹-30) to (L¹-52) and (L¹-103) to (L¹-108).

Preferably, the R² radicals in the formulae (L¹-1) to (L¹-108) do not form a fused aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system, and preferably do not form any fused ring system, with the ring atoms of the aryl group or heteroaryl group to which the R² radicals are bonded. This includes the formation of a fused ring system with possible R³ substituents which may be bonded to the R² radicals.

It may further be the case that not more than one pyridine group is bonded to the L¹ group in the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd). This means that exactly one pyridine group may be bonded to the L¹ group in the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd), or one or more pyrimidine groups and additionally exactly one pyridine group are bonded to the L¹ group. Preferably, no further pyridine group is bonded to the L¹ group in the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) aside from the pyridine group and/or pyrimidine group.

Preferably, not more than exactly one pyrimidine group may be bonded to the L¹ group in the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd). In a particularly preferred embodiment, no pyridine group and exactly one pyrimidine group is bonded to the L¹ group in the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd).

It may additionally be the case that not more than one nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic group is bonded to the L¹ group in the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd). This means that no further nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic group is bonded to the L¹ group aside from the exactly one pyridine group or pyrimidine group. Preferably, not more than one nitrogen-containing heterocycle group is bonded to the L¹ group in the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd).

Furthermore, it may be the case that not more than one heterocycle group is bonded to the L¹ group in the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd). This means that no further heterocyclic group is bonded to the L¹ group aside from the exactly one pyridine group or pyrimidine group.

It may advantageously be the case that an inventive compound comprising at least one structure of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) does not comprise any carbazole and/or triarylamine group. More preferably, a compound of the invention does not comprise any hole-transporting group. Hole-transporting groups are known in the specialist field, these groups in many cases being carbazole, indenocarbazole, indolocarbazole, arylamine or diarylamine structures.

In a further configuration, it may be the case that an inventive compound comprising at least one structure of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) comprises at least one hole-transporting group, preferably a carbazole and/or triarylamine group. In addition, hole-transporting groups provided may also be an indenocarbazole, indolocarbazole, arylamine or diarylamine group.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, R², for example in a structure of formula (I) and preferred embodiments of this structure or the structures where reference is made to these formulae, is the same or different at each instance and is selected from the group consisting of H, D, an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably having 1, 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 5 to 30 aromatic ring atoms, preferably 5 to 24 aromatic ring atoms, more preferably 5 to 13 aromatic ring atoms, and may be substituted by one or more alkyl groups each having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, but is preferably unsubstituted.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, R³, for example in a structure of formula (I) and preferred embodiments of this structure or the structures where reference is made to these formulae, is the same or different at each instance and is selected from the group consisting of H, D, F, CN, an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably having 1, 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 5 to 30 aromatic ring atoms, preferably 5 to 24 aromatic ring atoms, more preferably 5 to 13 aromatic ring atoms, and may be substituted by one or more alkyl groups each having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, but is preferably unsubstituted.

When the compound of the invention is substituted by aromatic or heteroaromatic R¹ or R² groups, it is preferable when these do not have any aryl or heteroaryl groups having more than two aromatic six-membered rings fused directly to one another. More preferably, the substituents do not have any aryl or heteroaryl groups having six-membered rings fused directly to one another at all. The reason for this preference is the low triplet energy of such structures. Fused aryl groups which have more than two aromatic six-membered rings fused directly to one another but are nevertheless also suitable in accordance with the invention are phenanthrene and triphenylene, since these also have a high triplet level.

It may further be the case that the compound having the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) comprises not more than one pyridine group. This means that the compound having the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) contains exactly one pyridine group or comprises one or more pyrimidine groups and additionally exactly one pyridine group. Preferably, the compound having the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) does not comprise any further pyridine group aside from the pyridine group and/or pyrimidine group.

Preferably, the compound having the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) may comprise not more than exactly one pyridine group. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the compound having the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) contains no pyridine group and exactly one pyrimidine group.

It may additionally be the case that the compound having the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) has not more than one nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic group. This means that the compound does not contain any further nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic group aside from the exactly one pyridine group or pyrimidine group. Preferably, the compound having the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) has not more than one nitrogen-containing heterocycle group.

It may additionally be the case that the compound having the structures of formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (III), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IV), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) and/or (IVd) comprises not more than one heterocycle group. This means that the inventive compound preferably does not contain any further heterocyclic group aside from the exactly one pyridine group or pyrimidine group.

Particular advantages are possessed by compounds of the formula (Ia), preferably (IIa), more preferably (IIIa) and especially preferably (IVa) in which the L¹ group is selected from a structure of formula (L¹-93) and the Q group is selected from a structure of formula (Q-9), preferably (Q-14), and the Q group has two R¹ radicals each independently selected from (R¹-1) to (R¹-80), preferably (R¹-1), (R¹-2), (R¹-3), (R¹-4), (R¹-5), (R¹-6), (R¹-7), (R¹-8), (R¹-9), (R¹-10), (R¹-11), (R¹-12), (R¹-13), (R¹-14), (R¹-15), (R¹-16), (R¹-17), (R¹-18), (R¹-19), (R¹-20), (R¹-21), (R¹-22), (R¹-23), (R¹-24), (R¹-25), (R¹-26), (R¹-27), (R¹-28), (R¹-29), (R¹-30), (R¹-31), (R¹-32), (R¹-33), (R¹-34), (R¹-35), (R¹-36), (R¹-37), (R¹-38), (R¹-39), (R¹-40), (R¹-41), (R¹-42), (R¹-43), (R¹-44), (R¹-45), (R¹-46), (R¹-47), (R¹-48), (R¹-49), (R¹-50), (R¹-51). In this context, the radicals of the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) each preferably have not more than four, preferably not more than three and more preferably not more than two R² groups, particularly have not more than one R² group and especially preferably have no R² group.

Particular advantages are possessed by compounds of the formula (Ia), preferably (IIa), more preferably (IIIa) and especially preferably (IVa) in which the L¹ group is selected from a structure of formula (L¹-93) and the Q group is selected from a structure of formula (Q-8), preferably (Q-13), and the Q group has two R¹ radicals each independently selected from (R¹-1) to (R¹-80), preferably (R¹-1), (R¹-2), (R¹-3), (R¹-4), (R¹-5), (R¹-6), (R¹-7), (R¹-8), (R¹-9), (R¹-10), (R¹-11), (R¹-12), (R¹-13), (R¹-14), (R¹-15), (R¹-16), (R¹-17), (R¹-18), (R¹-19), (R¹-20), (R¹-21), (R¹-22), (R¹-23), (R¹-24), (R¹-25), (R¹-26), (R¹-27), (R¹-28), (R¹-29), (R¹-30), (R¹-31), (R¹-32), (R¹-33), (R¹-34), (R¹-35), (R¹-36), (R¹-37), (R¹-38), (R¹-39), (R¹-40), (R¹-41), (R¹-42), (R¹-43), (R¹-44), (R¹-45), (R¹-46), (R¹-47), (R¹-48), (R¹-49), (R¹-50), (R¹-51). In this context, the radicals of the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) each preferably have not more than four, preferably not more than three and more preferably not more than two R² groups, particularly have not more than one R² group and especially preferably have no R² group.

Particular advantages are possessed by compounds of the formula (Ia), preferably (IIa), more preferably (IIIa) and especially preferably (IVa) in which the L¹ group is selected from a structure of formula (L¹-93) and the Q group is selected from a structure of formula (Q-10), preferably (Q-14), and the Q group has two R¹ radicals each independently selected from (R¹-1) to (R¹-80), preferably (R¹-1), (R¹-2), (R¹-3), (R¹-4), (R¹-5), (R¹-6), (R¹-7), (R¹-8), (R¹-9), (R¹-10), (R¹-11), (R¹-12), (R¹-13), (R¹-14), (R¹-15), (R¹-16), (R¹-17), (R¹-18), (R¹-19), (R¹-20), (R¹-21), (R¹-22), (R¹-23), (R¹-24), (R¹-25), (R¹-26), (R¹-27), (R¹-28), (R¹-29), (R¹-30), (R¹-31), (R¹-32), (R¹-33), (R¹-34), (R¹-35), (R¹-36), (R¹-37), (R¹-38), (R¹-39), (R¹-40), (R¹-41), (R¹-42), (R¹-43), (R¹-44), (R¹-45), (R¹-46), (R¹-47), (R¹-48), (R¹-49), (R¹-50), (R¹-51). In this context, the radicals of the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) each preferably have not more than four, preferably not more than three and more preferably not more than two R² groups, particularly have not more than one R² group and especially preferably have no R² group.

Particular advantages are possessed by compounds of the formula (Ia), preferably (IIa), more preferably (IIIa) and especially preferably (IVa) in which the L¹ group is selected from a structure of formula (L¹-92) and the Q group is selected from a structure of formula (Q-9), preferably (Q-14), and the Q group has two R¹ radicals each independently selected from (R¹-1) to (R¹-80), preferably (R¹-1), (R¹-2), (R¹-3), (R¹-4), (R¹-5), (R¹-6), (R¹-7), (R¹-8), (R¹-9), (R¹-10), (R¹-11), (R¹-12), (R¹-13), (R¹-14), (R¹-15), (R¹-16), (R¹-17), (R¹-18), (R¹-19), (R¹-20), (R¹-21), (R¹-22), (R¹-23), (R¹-24), (R¹-25), (R¹-26), (R¹-27), (R¹-28), (R¹-29), (R¹-30), (R¹-31), (R¹-32), (R¹-33), (R¹-34), (R¹-35), (R¹-36), (R¹-37), (R¹-38), (R¹-39), (R¹-40), (R¹-41), (R¹-42), (R¹-43), (R¹-44), (R¹-45), (R¹-46), (R¹-47), (R¹-48), (R¹-49), (R¹-50), (R¹-51). In this context, the radicals of the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) each preferably have not more than four, preferably not more than three and more preferably not more than two R² groups, particularly have not more than one R² group and especially preferably have no R² group.

Particular advantages are possessed by compounds of the formula (Ia), preferably (IIa), more preferably (IIIa) and especially preferably (IVa) in which the L¹ group is selected from a structure of formula (L¹-92) and the Q group is selected from a structure of formula (Q-8), preferably (Q-13), and the Q group has two R¹ radicals each independently selected from (R¹-1) to (R¹-80), preferably (R¹-1), (R¹-2), (R¹-3), (R¹-4), (R¹-5), (R¹-6), (R¹-7), (R¹-8), (R¹-9), (R¹-10), (R¹-11), (R¹-12), (R¹-13), (R¹-14), (R¹-15), (R¹-16), (R¹-17), (R¹-18), (R¹-19), (R¹-20), (R¹-21), (R¹-22), (R¹-23), (R¹-24), (R¹-25), (R¹-26), (R¹-27), (R¹-28), (R¹-29), (R¹-30), (R¹-31), (R¹-32), (R¹-33), (R¹-34), (R¹-35), (R¹-36), (R¹-37), (R¹-38), (R¹-39), (R¹-40), (R¹-41), (R¹-42), (R¹-43), (R¹-44), (R¹-45), (R¹-46), (R¹-47), (R¹-48), (R¹-49), (R¹-50), (R¹-51). In this context, the radicals of the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) each preferably have not more than four, preferably not more than three and more preferably not more than two R² groups, particularly have not more than one R² group and especially preferably have no R² group.

Particular advantages are possessed by compounds of the formula (Ia), preferably (IIa), more preferably (IIIa) and especially preferably (IVa) in which the L¹ group is selected from a structure of formula (L¹-92) and the Q group is selected from a structure of formula (Q-10), preferably (Q-14), and the Q group has two R¹ radicals each independently selected from (R¹-1) to (R¹-80), preferably (R¹-1), (R¹-2), (R¹-3), (R¹-4), (R¹-5), (R¹-6), (R¹-7), (R¹-8), (R¹-9), (R¹-10), (R¹-11), (R¹-12), (R¹-13), (R¹-14), (R¹-15), (R¹-16), (R¹-17), (R¹-18), (R¹-19), (R¹-20), (R¹-21), (R¹-22), (R¹-23), (R¹-24), (R¹-25), (R¹-26), (R¹-27), (R¹-28), (R¹-29), (R¹-30), (R¹-31), (R¹-32), (R¹-33), (R¹-34), (R¹-35), (R¹-36), (R¹-37), (R¹-38), (R¹-39), (R¹-40), (R¹-41), (R¹-42), (R¹-43), (R¹-44), (R¹-45), (R¹-46), (R¹-47), (R¹-48), (R¹-49), (R¹-50), (R¹-51). In this context, the radicals of the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) each preferably have not more than four, preferably not more than three and more preferably not more than two R² groups, particularly have not more than one R² group and especially preferably have no R² group.

Particular advantages are possessed by compounds of the formula (Ia), preferably (IIa), more preferably (IIIa) and especially preferably (IVa) in which the L¹ group is selected from a structure of formula (L¹-94) and the Q group is selected from a structure of formula (Q-9), preferably (Q-14), and the Q group has two R¹ radicals each independently selected from (R¹-1) to (R¹-80), preferably (R¹-1), (R¹-2), (R¹-3), (R¹-4), (R¹-5), (R¹-6), (R¹-7), (R¹-8), (R¹-9), (R¹-10), (R¹-11), (R¹-12), (R¹-13), (R¹-14), (R¹-15), (R¹-16), (R¹-17), (R¹-18), (R¹-19), (R¹-20), (R¹-21), (R¹-22), (R¹-23), (R¹-24), (R¹-25), (R¹-26), (R¹-27), (R¹-28), (R¹-29), (R¹-30), (R¹-31), (R¹-32), (R¹-33), (R¹-34), (R¹-35), (R¹-36), (R¹-37), (R¹-38), (R¹-39), (R¹-40), (R¹-41), (R¹-42), (R¹-43), (R¹-44), (R¹-45), (R¹-46), (R¹-47), (R¹-48), (R¹-49), (R¹-50), (R¹-51). In this context, the radicals of the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) each preferably have not more than four, preferably not more than three and more preferably not more than two R² groups, particularly have not more than one R² group and especially preferably have no R² group.

Particular advantages are possessed by compounds of the formula (Ia), preferably (IIa), more preferably (IIIa) and especially preferably (IVa) in which the L¹ group is selected from a structure of formula (L¹-94) and the Q group is selected from a structure of formula (Q-8), preferably (Q-13), and the Q group has two R¹ radicals each independently selected from (R¹-1) to (R¹-80), preferably (R¹-1), (R¹-2), (R¹-3), (R¹-4), (R¹-5), (R¹-6), (R¹-7), (R¹-8), (R¹-9), (R¹-10), (R¹-11), (R¹-12), (R¹-13), (R¹-14), (R¹-15), (R¹-16), (R¹-17), (R¹-18), (R¹-19), (R¹-20), (R¹-21), (R¹-22), (R¹-23), (R¹-24), (R¹-25), (R¹-26), (R¹-27), (R¹-28), (R¹-29), (R¹-30), (R¹-31), (R¹-32), (R¹-33), (R¹-34), (R¹-35), (R¹-36), (R¹-37), (R¹-38), (R¹-39), (R¹-40), (R¹-41), (R¹-42), (R¹-43), (R¹-44), (R¹-45), (R¹-46), (R¹-47), (R¹-48), (R¹-49), (R¹-50), (R¹-51). In this context, the radicals of the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) each preferably have not more than four, preferably not more than three and more preferably not more than two R² groups, particularly have not more than one R² group and especially preferably have no R² group.

Particular advantages are possessed by compounds of the formula (Ia), preferably (IIa), more preferably (IIIa) and especially preferably (IVa) in which the L¹ group is selected from a structure of formula (L¹-94) and the Q group is selected from a structure of formula (Q-10), preferably (Q-14), and the Q group has two R¹ radicals each independently selected from (R¹-1) to (R¹-80), preferably (R¹-1), (R¹-2), (R¹-3), (R¹-4), (R¹-5), (R¹-6), (R¹-7), (R¹-8), (R¹-9), (R¹-10), (R¹-11), (R¹-12), (R¹-13), (R¹-14), (R¹-15), (R¹-16), (R¹-17), (R¹-18), (R¹-19), (R¹-20), (R¹-21), (R¹-22), (R¹-23), (R¹-24), (R¹-25), (R¹-26), (R¹-27), (R¹-28), (R¹-29), (R¹-30), (R¹-31), (R¹-32), (R¹-33), (R¹-34), (R¹-35), (R¹-36), (R¹-37), (R¹-38), (R¹-39), (R¹-40), (R¹-41), (R¹-42), (R¹-43), (R¹-44), (R¹-45), (R¹-46), (R¹-47), (R¹-48), (R¹-49), (R¹-50), (R¹-51). In this context, the radicals of the formulae (R¹-1) to (R¹-80) each preferably have not more than four, preferably not more than three and more preferably not more than two R² groups, particularly have not more than one R² group and especially preferably have no R² group.

Examples of suitable compounds of the invention are the structures of the following formulae 1 to 57 shown below:

Preferred embodiments of compounds of the invention are detailed specifically in the examples, these compounds being usable alone or in combination with further compounds for all purposes of the invention.

Provided that the conditions specified in claim 1 are complied with, the abovementioned preferred embodiments can be combined with one another as desired. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the abovementioned preferred embodiments apply simultaneously.

The compounds of the invention are preparable in principle by various processes. However, the processes described hereinafter have been found to be particularly suitable.

Therefore, the present invention further provides a process for preparing the compounds comprising structures of formula (I) in which, in a coupling reaction, a compound comprising at least one pyridine and/or pyrimidine group is reacted with a compound comprising at least one spirobifluorene radical.

Suitable compounds having a pyridine and/or pyrimidine group are in many cases commercially available, and the starting compounds detailed in the examples are obtainable by known processes, and so reference is made thereto.

These compounds can be reacted with further aryl compounds by known coupling reactions, the necessary conditions for this purpose being known to the person skilled in the art, and detailed specifications in the examples give support to the person skilled in the art in conducting these reactions.

Particularly suitable and preferred coupling reactions which all lead to C—C bond formation and/or C—N bond formation are those according to BUCHWALD, SUZUKI, YAMAMOTO, STILLE, HECK, NEGISHI, SONOGASH IRA and HIYAMA. These reactions are widely known, and the examples will provide the person skilled in the art with further pointers.

In all the synthesis schemes which follow, the compounds are shown with a small number of substituents to simplify the structures. This does not rule out the presence of any desired further substituents in the processes.

An illustrative implementation is given by the schemes which follow, without any intention that these should impose a restriction. The component steps of the individual schemes may be combined with one another as desired.

The processes shown for synthesis of the compounds of the invention should be understood by way of example. The person skilled in the art will be able to develop alternative synthesis routes within the scope of his common knowledge in the art.

The principles of the preparation processes detailed above are known in principle from the literature for similar compounds and can be adapted easily by the person skilled in the art to the preparation of the compounds of the invention. Further information can be found in the examples.

It is possible by these processes, if necessary followed by purification, for example recrystallization or sublimation, to obtain the compounds of the invention comprising structures of formula (I) in high purity, preferably more than 99% (determined by means of ¹H NMR and/or HPLC).

The compounds of the invention may also have suitable substituents, for example relatively long alkyl groups (about 4 to 20 carbon atoms), especially branched alkyl groups, or optionally substituted aryl groups, for example xylyl, mesityl or branched terphenyl or quaterphenyl groups, which bring about solubility in standard organic solvents, for example toluene or xylene, at room temperature in a sufficient concentration soluble, in order to be able to process the compounds from solution. These soluble compounds are of particularly good suitability for processing from solution, for example by printing methods. In addition, it should be emphasized that the compounds of the invention comprising at least one structure of the formula (I) already have enhanced solubility in these solvents.

The compounds of the invention may also be mixed with a polymer. It is likewise possible to incorporate these compounds covalently into a polymer. This is especially possible with compounds substituted by reactive leaving groups such as bromine, iodine, chlorine, boronic acid or boronic ester, or by reactive polymerizable groups such as olefins or oxetanes. These may find use as monomers for production of corresponding oligomers, dendrimers or polymers. The oligomerization or polymerization is preferably effected via the halogen functionality or the boronic acid functionality or via the polymerizable group. It is additionally possible to crosslink the polymers via groups of this kind. The compounds of the invention and polymers may be used in the form of a crosslinked or uncrosslinked layer.

The invention therefore further provides oligomers, polymers or dendrimers containing one or more of the above-detailed structures of the formula (I) or compounds of the invention, wherein one or more bonds of the compounds of the invention or of the structures of the formula (I) to the polymer, oligomer or dendrimer are present. According to the linkage of the structures of the formula (I) or of the compounds, these therefore form a side chain of the oligomer or polymer or are bonded within the main chain.

The polymers, oligomers or dendrimers may be conjugated, partly conjugated or nonconjugated. The oligomers or polymers may be linear, branched or dendritic. For the repeat units of the compounds of the invention in oligomers, dendrimers and polymers, the same preferences apply as described above.

For preparation of the oligomers or polymers, the monomers of the invention are homopolymerized or copolymerized with further monomers. Preference is given to copolymers wherein the units of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter are present to an extent of 0.01 to 99.9 mol %, preferably 5 to 90 mol %, more preferably 20 to 80 mol %. Suitable and preferred comonomers which form the polymer base skeleton are chosen from fluorenes (for example according to EP 842208 or WO 2000/022026), spirobifluorenes (for example according to EP 707020, EP 894107 or WO 2006/061181), paraphenylenes (for example according to WO 92/18552), carbazoles (for example according to WO 2004/070772 or WO 2004/113468), thiophenes (for example according to EP 1028136), dihydrophenanthrenes (for example according to WO 2005/014689), cis- and trans-indenofluorenes (for example according to WO 2004/041901 or WO 2004/113412), ketones (for example according to WO 2005/040302), phenanthrenes (for example according to WO 2005/104264 or WO 2007/017066) or else a plurality of these units. The polymers, oligomers and dendrimers may contain still further units, for example hole transport units, especially those based on triarylamines, and/or electron transport units.

Additionally of particular interest are compounds of the invention which feature a high glass transition temperature. In this connection, preference is given especially to compounds of the invention comprising structures of the general formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter which have a glass transition temperature of at least 70° C., more preferably of at least 110° C., even more preferably of at least 125° C. and especially preferably of at least 150° C., determined in accordance with DIN 51005 (2005-08 version).

For the processing of the compounds of the invention from a liquid phase, for example by spin-coating or by printing methods, formulations of the compounds of the invention are required. These formulations may, for example, be solutions, dispersions or emulsions. For this purpose, it may be preferable to use mixtures of two or more solvents. Suitable and preferred solvents are, for example, toluene, anisole, o-, m- or p-xylene, methyl benzoate, mesitylene, tetralin, veratrole, THF, methyl-THF, THP, chlorobenzene, dioxane, phenoxytoluene, especially 3-phenoxytoluene, (−)-fenchone, 1,2,3,5-tetramethylbenzene, 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylbenzothiazole, 2-phenoxyethanol, 2-pyrrolidinone, 3-methylanisole, 4-methylanisole, 3,4-dimethylanisole, 3,5-dimethylanisole, acetophenone, α-terpineol, benzothiazole, butyl benzoate, cumene, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexylbenzene, decalin, dodecylbenzene, ethyl benzoate, indane, methyl benzoate, NMP, p-cymene, phenetole, 1,4-diisopropylbenzene, dibenzyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl methyl ether, triethylene glycol butyl methyl ether, diethylene glycol dibutyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tripropylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, 2-isopropylnaphthalene, pentylbenzene, hexylbenzene, heptylbenzene, octylbenzene, 1,1-bis(3,4-dimethylphenyl)ethane, hexamethylindane or mixtures of these solvents.

The present invention therefore further provides a formulation comprising a compound of the invention and at least one further compound. The further compound may, for example, be a solvent, especially one of the abovementioned solvents or a mixture of these solvents. The further compound may alternatively be at least one further organic or inorganic compound which is likewise used in the electronic device, for example an emitting compound, especially a phosphorescent dopant, and/or a further matrix material. This further compound may also be polymeric.

The present invention therefore still further provides a composition comprising a compound of the invention and at least one further organically functional material. Functional materials are generally the organic or inorganic materials introduced between the anode and cathode. Preferably, the organic functional material is selected from the group consisting of fluorescent emitters, phosphorescent emitters, host materials, matrix materials, electron transport materials, electron injection materials, hole conductor materials, hole injection materials, electron blocker materials, hole blocker materials, wide band gap materials and n-dopants.

The present invention therefore also relates to a composition comprising at least one compound comprising structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter and at least one further matrix material. According to a particular aspect of the present invention, the further matrix material has hole-transporting properties.

The present invention further provides a composition comprising at least one compound comprising at least one structure of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter and at least one wide band gap material, a wide band gap material being understood to mean a material in the sense of the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 7,294,849. These systems exhibit exceptional advantageous performance data in electroluminescent devices.

Preferably, the additional compound may have a band gap of 2.5 eV or more, preferably 3.0 eV or more, very preferably of 3.5 eV or more. One way of calculating the band gap is via the energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO).

Molecular orbitals, especially also the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), the energy levels thereof and the energy of the lowest triplet state T₁ and that of the lowest excited singlet state S₁ of the materials are determined via quantum-chemical calculations. For calculation of organic substances without metals, an optimization of geometry is first conducted by the “Ground State/Semi-empirical/Default Spin/AM1/Charge 0/Spin Singlet” method. Subsequently, an energy calculation is effected on the basis of the optimized geometry. This is done using the “TD-SCF/DFT/Default Spin/B3PW91” method with the “6-31G(d)” basis set (charge 0, spin singlet). For metal-containing compounds, the geometry is optimized via the “Ground State/Hartree-Fock/Default Spin/LanL2 MB/Charge 0/Spin Singlet” method. The energy calculation is effected analogously to the above-described method for the organic substances, except that the “LanL2DZ” basis set is used for the metal atom and the “6-31G(d)” basis set for the ligands. The HOMO energy level HEh or LUMO energy level LEh is obtained from the energy calculation in Hartree units. This is used to determine the HOMO and LUMO energy levels in electron volts, calibrated by cyclic voltammetry measurements, as follows:

HOMO(eV)=((HEh*27.212)−0.9899)/1.1206

LUMO(eV)=((LEh*27.212)−2.0041)/1.385

These values are to be regarded as HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the materials in the context of this application.

The lowest triplet state T₁ is defined as the energy of the triplet state having the lowest energy, which is apparent from the quantum-chemical calculation described.

The lowest excited singlet state S₁ is defined as the energy of the excited singlet state having the lowest energy, which is apparent from the quantum-chemical calculation described.

The method described herein is independent of the software package used and always gives the same results. Examples of frequently utilized programs for this purpose are “Gaussian09 W” (Gaussian Inc.) and Q-Chem 4.1 (Q-Chem, Inc.).

The present invention also relates to a composition comprising at least one compound comprising structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter and at least one phosphorescent emitter, the term “phosphorescent emitters” also being understood to mean phosphorescent dopants.

A dopant in a system comprising a matrix material and a dopant is understood to mean that component having the smaller proportion in the mixture. Correspondingly, a matrix material in a system comprising a matrix material and a dopant is understood to mean that component having the greater proportion in the mixture.

Preferred phosphorescent dopants for use in matrix systems, preferably mixed matrix systems, are the preferred phosphorescent dopants specified hereinafter.

The term “phosphorescent dopants” typically encompasses compounds where the emission of light is effected through a spin-forbidden transition, for example a transition from an excited triplet state or a state having a higher spin quantum number, for example a quintet state.

Suitable phosphorescent compounds (=triplet emitters) are especially compounds which, when suitably excited, emit light, preferably in the visible region, and also contain at least one atom of atomic number greater than 20, preferably greater than 38 and less than 84, more preferably greater than 56 and less than 80, especially a metal having this atomic number. Preferred phosphorescence emitters used are compounds containing copper, molybdenum, tungsten, rhenium, ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold or europium, especially compounds containing iridium or platinum. In the context of the present invention, all luminescent compounds containing the abovementioned metals are regarded as phosphorescent compounds.

Examples of the above-described emitters can be found in the applications WO 00/70655, WO 2001/41512, WO 2002/02714, WO 2002/15645, EP 1191613, EP 1191612, EP 1191614, WO 05/033244, WO 05/019373, US 2005/0258742, WO 2009/146770, WO 2010/015307, WO 2010/031485, WO 2010/054731, WO 2010/054728, WO 2010/086089, WO 2010/099852, WO 2010/102709, WO 2011/032626, WO 2011/066898, WO 2011/157339, WO 2012/007086, WO 2014/008982, WO 2014/023377, WO 2014/094961, WO 2014/094960 and the as yet unpublished applications EP 13004411.8, EP 14000345.0, EP 14000417.7 and EP 14002623.8. In general, all phosphorescent complexes as used for phosphorescent OLEDs according to the prior art and as known to those skilled in the art in the field of organic electroluminescence are suitable, and the person skilled in the art will be able to use further phosphorescent complexes without exercising inventive skill.

Explicit examples of phosphorescent dopants are adduced in the following table:

The above-described compound comprising structures of the formula (I) or the above-detailed preferred embodiments can preferably be used as active component in an electronic device. An electronic device is understood to mean any device comprising anode, cathode and at least one layer between anode and cathode, said layer comprising at least one organic or organometallic compound. The electronic device of the invention thus comprises anode, cathode and at least one intervening layer containing at least one compound comprising structures of the formula (I). Preferred electronic devices here are selected from the group consisting of organic electroluminescent devices (OLEDs, PLEDs), organic integrated circuits (O-ICs), organic field-effect transistors (O-FETs), organic thin-film transistors (O-TFTs), organic light-emitting transistors (O-LETs), organic solar cells (O-SCs), organic optical detectors, organic photoreceptors, organic field-quench devices (O-FQDs), organic electrical sensors, light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), organic laser diodes (O-lasers) and organic plasmon emitting devices (D. M. Koller et al., Nature Photonics 2008, 1-4), preferably organic electroluminescent devices (OLEDs, PLEDs), especially phosphorescent OLEDs, containing at least one compound comprising structures of the formula (I) in at least one layer. Particular preference is given to organic electroluminescent devices. Active components are generally the organic or inorganic materials introduced between the anode and cathode, for example charge injection, charge transport or charge blocker materials, but especially emission materials and matrix materials.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is organic electroluminescent devices. The organic electroluminescent device comprises cathode, anode and at least one emitting layer. Apart from these layers, it may comprise still further layers, for example in each case one or more hole injection layers, hole transport layers, hole blocker layers, electron transport layers, electron injection layers, exciton blocker layers, electron blocker layers, charge generation layers and/or organic or inorganic p/n junctions. At the same time, it is possible that one or more hole transport layers are p-doped, for example with metal oxides such as MoO₃ or WO₃ or with (per)fluorinated electron-deficient aromatic systems, and/or that one or more electron transport layers are n-doped. It is likewise possible for interlayers to be introduced between two emitting layers, these having, for example, an exciton-blocking function and/or controlling the charge balance in the electroluminescent device. However, it should be pointed out that not necessarily every one of these layers need be present.

In this case, it is possible for the organic electroluminescent device to contain an emitting layer, or for it to contain a plurality of emitting layers. If a plurality of emission layers are present, these preferably have several emission maxima between 380 nm and 750 nm overall, such that the overall result is white emission; in other words, various emitting compounds which may fluoresce or phosphoresce are used in the emitting layers. Especially preferred are three-layer systems where the three layers exhibit blue, green and orange or red emission (for the basic construction see, for example, WO 2005/011013), or systems having more than three emitting layers. The system may also be a hybrid system wherein one or more layers fluoresce and one or more other layers phosphoresce.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the organic electroluminescent device contains the compound of the invention comprising structures of formula (I) or the above-detailed preferred embodiments as matrix material, preferably as electron-conducting matrix material, in one or more emitting layers, preferably in combination with a further matrix material, preferably a hole-conducting matrix material. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the further matrix material is an electron-transporting compound. In yet a further preferred embodiment, the further matrix material is a compound having a large band gap which is not involved to a significant degree, if at all, in the hole and electron transport in the layer. An emitting layer comprises at least one emitting compound.

Suitable matrix materials which can be used in combination with the compounds of formula (I) or according to the preferred embodiments are aromatic ketones, aromatic phosphine oxides or aromatic sulphoxides or sulphones, for example according to WO 2004/013080, WO 2004/093207, WO 2006/005627 or WO 2010/006680, triarylamines, especially monoamines, for example according to WO 2014/015935, carbazole derivatives, e.g. CBP (N,N-biscarbazolylbiphenyl) or the carbazole derivatives disclosed in WO 2005/039246, US 2005/0069729, JP 2004/288381, EP 1205527 or WO 2008/086851, indolocarbazole derivatives, for example according to WO 2007/063754 or WO 2008/056746, indenocarbazole derivatives, for example according to WO 2010/136109 and WO 2011/000455, azacarbazole derivatives, for example according to EP 1617710, EP 1617711, EP 1731584, JP 2005/347160, bipolar matrix materials, for example according to WO 2007/137725, silanes, for example according to WO 2005/111172, azaboroles or boronic esters, for example according to WO 2006/117052, triazine derivatives, for example according to WO 2010/015306, WO 2007/063754 or WO 2008/056746, zinc complexes, for example according to EP 652273 or WO 2009/062578, diazasilole or tetraazasilole derivatives, for example according to WO 2010/054729, diazaphosphole derivatives, for example according to WO 2010/054730, bridged carbazole derivatives, for example according to US 2009/0136779, WO 2010/050778, WO 2011/042107, WO 2011/088877 or WO 2012/143080, triphenylene derivatives, for example according to WO 2012/048781, lactams, for example according to WO 2011/116865, WO 2011/137951 or WO 2013/064206, or 4-spirocarbazole derivatives, for example according to WO 2014/094963 or the as yet unpublished application EP 14002104.9. It is likewise possible for a further phosphorescent emitter which emits at a shorter wavelength than the actual emitter to be present as co-host in the mixture.

Preferred co-host materials are triarylamine derivatives, especially monoamines, indenocarbazole derivatives, 4-spirocarbazole derivatives, lactams and carbazole derivatives.

Preferred triarylamine derivatives which are used as co-host materials together with the compounds of the invention are selected from the compounds of the following formula (TA-1):

where Ar¹ is the same or different at each instance and is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 6 to 40 carbon atoms and may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, an aryloxy group which has 5 to 60 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, or an aralkyl group which has 5 to 60 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, where two or more adjacent R² substituents may optionally form a mono- or polycyclic aliphatic ring system which may be substituted by one or more R³ radicals, where the symbol R² has the definition given above, especially for formula (I). Preferably, Ar¹ is the same or different at each instance and is an aryl or heteroaryl group which has 5 to 24 and preferably 5 to 12 aromatic ring atoms, and which may be substituted in each case by one or more R² radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted.

Examples of suitable Ar¹ groups are selected from the group consisting of phenyl, ortho-, meta- or para-biphenyl, terphenyl, especially branched terphenyl, quaterphenyl, especially branched quaterphenyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-fluorenyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-spirobifluorenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-dibenzofuranyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-dibenzothienyl and 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-carbazolyl, each of which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, but are preferably unsubstituted.

Preferably, the Ar¹ groups are the same or different at each instance and are selected from the abovementioned R¹-1 to R¹-80 groups, more preferably R¹-1 to R¹-51.

In a preferred embodiment of the compounds of the formula (TA-1), at least one Ar¹ group is selected from a biphenyl group, which may be an ortho-, meta- or para-biphenyl group. In a further preferred embodiment of the compounds of the formula (TA-1), at least one Ar¹ group is selected from a fluorene group or spirobifluorene group, where these groups may each be bonded to the nitrogen atom in the 1, 2, 3 or 4 position. In yet a further preferred embodiment of the compounds of the formula (TA-1), at least one Ar¹ group is selected from a phenylene or biphenyl group, where the group is an ortho-, meta- or para-bonded group, substituted by a dibenzofuran group, a dibenzothiophene group or a carbazole group, especially a dibenzofuran group, where the dibenzofuran or dibenzothiophene group is bonded to the phenylene or biphenyl group via the 1, 2, 3 or 4 position and where the carbazole group is bonded to the phenylene or biphenyl group via the 1, 2, 3 or 4 position or via the nitrogen atom.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the compounds of the formula (TA-1), one Ar¹ group is selected from a fluorene or spirobifluorene group, especially a 4-fluorene or 4-spirobifluorene group, and one Ar¹ group is selected from a biphenyl group, especially a para-biphenyl group, or a fluorene group, especially a 2-fluorene group, and the third Ar¹ group is selected from a para-phenylene group or a para-biphenyl group, substituted by a dibenzofuran group, especially a 4-dibenzofuran group, or a carbazole group, especially an N-carbazole group or a 3-carbazole group.

Preferred indenocarbazole derivatives which are used as co-host materials together with the compounds of the invention are selected from the compounds of the following formula (TA-2):

where Ar¹ and R¹ have the definitions listed above, especially for formulae (I) and/or (TA-1). Preferred embodiments of the Ar¹ group are the above-listed structures R¹-1 to R¹-80, more preferably R¹-1 to R¹-51.

A preferred embodiment of the compounds of the formula (TA-2) is the compounds of the following formula (TA-2a):

where Ar¹ and R¹ have the definitions listed above, especially for formulae (I) and/or (TA-1). The two R¹ groups bonded to the indeno carbon atom here are preferably the same or different and are an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, especially methyl groups, or an aromatic ring system having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, especially phenyl groups. \More preferably, the two R¹ groups bonded to the indeno carbon atom are methyl groups. Further preferably, the R¹ substituent bonded to the indenocarbazole base skeleton in formula (TA-2a) is H or a carbazole group which may be bonded to the indenocarbazole base skeleton via the 1, 2, 3 or 4 position or via the nitrogen atom, especially via the 3 position.

Preferred 4-spirocarbazole derivatives which are used as co-host materials together with the compounds of the invention are selected from the compounds of the following formula (TA-3):

where Ar¹ and R¹ have the definitions listed above, especially for formulae (I), (II) and/or (Q-1). Preferred embodiments of the Ar¹ group are the above-listed structures R¹-1 to R¹-80, more preferably R¹-1 to R¹-51.

A preferred embodiment of the compounds of the formula (TA-3) is the compounds of the following formula (TA-3a):

where Ar¹ and R¹ have the definitions listed above, especially for formulae (I), (II) and/or (Q-1). Preferred embodiments of the Ar¹ group are the above-listed structures R¹-1 to R¹-80, more preferably R¹-1 to R¹-51.

Preferred lactams which are used as co-host materials together with the compounds of the invention are selected from the compounds of the following formula (LAC-1):

where R¹ has the definition listed above, especially for formula (I).

A preferred embodiment of the compounds of the formula (LAC-1) is the compounds of the following formula (LAC-1a):

where R¹ has the definition given above, especially for formula (I). R¹ is preferably the same or different at each instance and is H or an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 5 to 40 aromatic ring atoms and may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, where R² may have the definition given above, especially for formula (I). Most preferably, the R¹ substituents are selected from the group consisting of H and an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system which has 6 to 18 aromatic ring atoms, preferably 6 to 13 aromatic ring atoms, and which may be substituted in each case by one or more nonaromatic R² radicals, but is preferably unsubstituted. Examples of suitable R¹ substituents are selected from the group consisting of phenyl, ortho-, meta- or para-biphenyl, terphenyl, especially branched terphenyl, quaterphenyl, especially branched quaterphenyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-fluorenyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-spirobifluorenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-dibenzofuranyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-dibenzothienyl and 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-carbazolyl, each of which may be substituted by one or more R² radicals, but are preferably unsubstituted. Suitable R¹ structures are the same structures as depicted above for R-1 to R-79, more preferably R¹-1 to R¹-51.

It may also be preferable to use a plurality of different matrix materials as a mixture, especially at least one electron-conducting matrix material and at least one hole-conducting matrix material. Preference is likewise given to the use of a mixture of a charge-transporting matrix material and an electrically inert matrix material having no significant involvement, if any, in the charge transport, as described, for example, in WO 2010/108579.

It is further preferable to use a mixture of two or more triplet emitters together with a matrix. In this case, the triplet emitter having the shorter-wave emission spectrum serves as co-matrix for the triplet emitter having the longer-wave emission spectrum.

More preferably, it is possible to use a compound of the invention comprising structures of formula (I), in a preferred embodiment, as matrix material in an emission layer of an organic electronic device, especially in an organic electroluminescent device, for example in an OLED or OLEC. In this case, the matrix material containing compound comprising structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter is present in the electronic device in combination with one or more dopants, preferably phosphorescent dopants.

The proportion of the matrix material in the emitting layer in this case is between 50.0% and 99.9% by volume, preferably between 80.0% and 99.5% by volume, and more preferably between 92.0% and 99.5% by volume for fluorescent emitting layers and between 85.0% and 97.0% by volume for phosphorescent emitting layers.

Correspondingly, the proportion of the dopant is between 0.1% and 50.0% by volume, preferably between 0.5% and 20.0% by volume, and more preferably between 0.5% and 8.0% by volume for fluorescent emitting layers and between 3.0% and 15.0% by volume for phosphorescent emitting layers.

An emitting layer of an organic electroluminescent device may also comprise systems comprising a plurality of matrix materials (mixed matrix systems) and/or a plurality of dopants. In this case too, the dopants are generally those materials having the smaller proportion in the system and the matrix materials are those materials having the greater proportion in the system. In individual cases, however, the proportion of a single matrix material in the system may be less than the proportion of a single dopant.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound comprising structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and below are used as a component of mixed matrix systems. The mixed matrix systems preferably comprise two or three different matrix materials, more preferably two different matrix materials. Preferably, in this case, one of the two materials is a material having hole-transporting properties and the other material is a material having electron-transporting properties. The desired electron-transporting and hole-transporting properties of the mixed matrix components may, however, also be combined mainly or entirely in a single mixed matrix component, in which case the further mixed matrix component(s) fulfil(s) other functions. The two different matrix materials may be present in a ratio of 1:50 to 1:1, preferably 1:20 to 1:1, more preferably 1:10 to 1:1 and most preferably 1:4 to 1:1. Preference is given to using mixed matrix systems in phosphorescent organic electroluminescent devices. One source of more detailed information about mixed matrix systems is the application WO 2010/108579.

The present invention further provides an electronic device, preferably an organic electroluminescent device, comprising one or more compounds of the invention and/or at least one oligomer, polymer or dendrimer of the invention in one or more electron-conducting layers, as electron-conducting compound.

Preferred cathodes are metals having a low work function, metal alloys or multilayer structures composed of various metals, for example alkaline earth metals, alkali metals, main group metals or lanthanoids (e.g. Ca, Ba, Mg, Al, In, Mg, Yb, Sm, etc.). Additionally suitable are alloys composed of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal and silver, for example an alloy composed of magnesium and silver. In the case of multilayer structures, in addition to the metals mentioned, it is also possible to use further metals having a relatively high work function, for example Ag, in which case combinations of the metals such as Mg/Ag, Ca/Ag or Ba/Ag, for example, are generally used. It may also be preferable to introduce a thin interlayer of a material having a high dielectric constant between a metallic cathode and the organic semiconductor. Examples of useful materials for this purpose are alkali metal or alkaline earth metal fluorides, but also the corresponding oxides or carbonates (e.g. LiF, Li₂O, BaF₂, MgO, NaF, CsF, Cs₂CO₃, etc.). Likewise useful for this purpose are organic alkali metal complexes, e.g. Liq (lithium quinolinate). The layer thickness of this layer is preferably between 0.5 and 5 nm.

Preferred anodes are materials having a high work function. Preferably, the anode has a work function of greater than 4.5 eV versus vacuum. Firstly, metals having a high redox potential are suitable for this purpose, for example Ag, Pt or Au. Secondly, metal/metal oxide electrodes (e.g. Al/Ni/NiO_x, Al/PtO_x) may also be preferred. For some applications, at least one of the electrodes has to be transparent or partly transparent in order to enable either the irradiation of the organic material (O-SC) or the emission of light (OLED/PLED, O-laser). Preferred anode materials here are conductive mixed metal oxides. Particular preference is given to indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO). Preference is further given to conductive doped organic materials, especially conductive doped polymers, for example PEDOT, PANI or derivatives of these polymers. It is further preferable when a p-doped hole transport material is applied to the anode as hole injection layer, in which case suitable p-dopants are metal oxides, for example MoO₃ or WO₃, or (per)fluorinated electron-deficient aromatic systems. Further suitable p-dopants are HAT-CN (hexacyanohexaazatriphenylene) or the compound NPD9 from Novaled. Such a layer simplifies hole injection into materials having a low HOMO, i.e. a large HOMO in terms of magnitude.

In the further layers, it is generally possible to use any materials as used according to the prior art for the layers, and the person skilled in the art is able, without exercising inventive skill, to combine any of these materials with the materials of the invention in an electronic device.

The device is correspondingly (according to the application) structured, contact-connected and finally hermetically sealed, since the lifetime of such devices is severely shortened in the presence of water and/or air.

Additionally preferred is an electronic device, especially an organic electroluminescent device, which is characterized in that one or more layers are coated by a sublimation process. In this case, the materials are applied by vapour deposition in vacuum sublimation systems at an initial pressure of typically less than 10⁻⁵ mbar, preferably less than 10⁻⁶ mbar. It is also possible that the initial pressure is even lower or even higher, for example less than 10⁻⁷ mbar.

Preference is likewise given to an electronic device, especially an organic electroluminescent device, which is characterized in that one or more layers are coated by the OVPD (organic vapour phase deposition) method or with the aid of a carrier gas sublimation. In this case, the materials are applied at a pressure between 10⁻⁵ mbar and 1 bar. A special case of this method is the OVJP (organic vapour jet printing) method, in which the materials are applied directly by a nozzle and thus structured (for example M. S. Arnold et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 2008, 92, 053301).

Preference is additionally given to an electronic device, especially an organic electroluminescent device, which is characterized in that one or more layers are produced from solution, for example by spin-coating, or by any printing method, for example screen printing, flexographic printing, offset printing or nozzle printing, but more preferably LITI (light-induced thermal imaging, thermal transfer printing) or inkjet printing. For this purpose, soluble compounds are needed, which are obtained, for example, through suitable substitution.

The electronic device, especially the organic electroluminescent device, can also be produced as a hybrid system by applying one or more layers from solution and applying one or more other layers by vapour deposition. For example, it is possible to apply an emitting layer comprising a compound of the invention comprising structures of formula (I) and a matrix material from solution, and to apply a hole blocker layer and/or an electron transport layer thereto by vapour deposition under reduced pressure.

These methods are known in general terms to those skilled in the art and can be applied without difficulty to electronic devices, especially organic electroluminescent devices comprising compounds of the invention comprising structures of formula (I) or the above-detailed preferred embodiments.

The electronic devices of the invention, especially organic electroluminescent devices, are notable for one or more of the following surprising advantages over the prior art:

• 1. Electronic devices, especially organic electroluminescent devices, comprising compounds, oligomers, polymers or dendrimers having structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter, especially as electron-conducting materials, have a very good lifetime.
• 2. Electronic devices, especially organic electroluminescent devices, comprising compounds, oligomers, polymers or dendrimers having structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter, as electron-conducting materials, electron injection materials and/or electron blocker materials, have excellent efficiency. More particularly, efficiency is much higher compared to analogous compounds containing no structural unit of formula (I).
• 3. The compounds, oligomers, polymers or dendrimers of the invention having structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter exhibit very high stability and lead to compounds having a very long lifetime.
• 4. With compounds, oligomers, polymers or dendrimers having structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter, it is possible to avoid the formation of optical loss channels in electronic devices, especially organic electroluminescent devices. As a result, these devices feature a high PL efficiency and hence high EL efficiency of emitters, and excellent energy transmission of the matrices to dopants.
• 5. The use of compounds, oligomers, polymers or dendrimers having structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter in layers of electronic devices, especially organic electroluminescent devices, leads to high mobility of the electron conductor structures.
• 6. Compounds, oligomers, polymers or dendrimers having structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and below feature excellent thermal stability, and compounds having a molar mass of less than about 1200 g/mol have good sublimability.
• 7. Compounds, oligomers, polymers or dendrimers having structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter have excellent glass film formation.
• 8. Compounds, oligomers, polymers or dendrimers having structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter form very good films from solutions.
• 9. The compounds, oligomers, polymers or dendrimers comprising structures of formula (I) or the preferred embodiments recited above and hereinafter have a surprisingly high triplet level T₁, this being particularly true of compounds which are used as electron-conducting materials.

These abovementioned advantages are not accompanied by a deterioration in the further electronic properties.

The compounds and mixtures of the invention are suitable for use in an electronic device. An electronic device is understood to mean a device containing at least one layer containing at least one organic compound. The component may also comprise inorganic materials or else layers formed entirely from inorganic materials.

The present invention therefore further provides for the use of the compounds or mixtures of the invention in an electronic device, especially in an organic electroluminescent device.

The present invention still further provides for the use of a compound of the invention and/or of an oligomer, polymer or dendrimer of the invention in an electronic device as hole blocker material, electron injection material and/or electron transport material.

The present invention still further provides an electronic device comprising at least one of the above-detailed compounds or mixtures of the invention. In this case, the preferences detailed above for the compound also apply to the electronic devices. More preferably, the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of organic electroluminescent devices (OLEDs, PLEDs), organic integrated circuits (O-ICs), organic field-effect transistors (O-FETs), organic thin-film transistors (O-TFTs), organic light-emitting transistors (O-LETs), organic solar cells (O-SCs), organic optical detectors, organic photoreceptors, organic field-quench devices (O-FQDs), organic electrical sensors, light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), organic laser diodes (O-lasers) and organic plasmon emitting devices (D. M. Koller et al., Nature Photonics 2008, 1-4), preferably organic electroluminescent devices (OLEDs, PLEDs), especially phosphorescent OLEDs.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the organic electroluminescent device of the invention does not contain any separate hole injection layer and/or hole transport layer and/or hole blocker layer and/or electron transport layer, meaning that the emitting layer directly adjoins the hole injection layer or the anode, and/or the emitting layer directly adjoins the electron transport layer or the electron injection layer or the cathode, as described, for example, in WO 2005/053051. It is additionally possible to use a metal complex identical or similar to the metal complex in the emitting layer as hole transport or hole injection material directly adjoining the emitting layer, as described, for example, in WO 2009/030981.

In addition, it is possible to use the compounds of the invention in a hole blocker or electron transport layer. This is especially true of compounds of the invention which do not have a carbazole structure. These may preferably also be substituted by one or more further electron-transporting groups, for example benzimidazole groups.

In the further layers of the organic electroluminescent device of the invention, it is possible to use any materials as typically used according to the prior art. The person skilled in the art is therefore able, without exercising inventive skill, to use any materials known for organic electroluminescent devices in combination with the inventive compounds of formula (I) or according to the preferred embodiments.

The compounds of the invention generally have very good properties on use in organic electroluminescent devices. Especially in the case of use of the compounds of the invention in organic electroluminescent devices, the lifetime is significantly better compared to similar compounds according to the prior art. At the same time, the further properties of the organic electroluminescent device, especially the efficiency and voltage, are likewise better or at least comparable.

It should be pointed out that variations of the embodiments described in the present invention are covered by the scope of this invention. Any feature disclosed in the present invention may, unless this is explicitly ruled out, be exchanged for alternative features which serve the same purpose or an equivalent or similar purpose. Thus, any feature disclosed in the present invention, unless stated otherwise, should be considered as an example of a generic series or as an equivalent or similar feature.

All features of the present invention may be combined with one another in any manner, unless particular features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. This is especially true of preferred features of the present invention. Equally, features of non-essential combinations may be used separately (and not in combination).

It should also be pointed out that many of the features, and especially those of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, should themselves be regarded as inventive and not merely as some of the embodiments of the present invention. For these features, independent protection may be sought in addition to or as an alternative to any currently claimed invention.

The technical teaching disclosed with the present invention may be abstracted and combined with other examples.

The invention is illustrated in detail by the examples which follow, without any intention of restricting it thereby.

The person skilled in the art will be able to use the details given, without exercising inventive skill, to produce further electronic devices of the invention and hence to execute the invention over the entire scope claimed.

EXAMPLES

The syntheses which follow, unless stated otherwise, are conducted under a protective gas atmosphere in dried solvents. The reactants can be purchased from ALDRICH (potassium fluoride (spray-dried), tri-tert-butylphosphine, palladium(II) acetate). Spiro-9,9′-bifluorene-2,7-bis(boronic acid glycol ester) is prepared analogously to WO 2002/077060. The numbers for the reactants known from the literature, some of which are stated in square brackets, are the corresponding CAS numbers.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLES

Example 1

Synthesis of 4-[3-(9H,9′H-[9,9′]bifluorenyl-2-yl)phenyl]-2,6-diphenylpyrimidine

Step a)

Synthesis of spiro-9,9′-bifluorene-2-boronic acid

To a solution, cooled to −78° C., of 103 g (264 mmol) of 2-bromo-9-spirobifluorene in 1500 ml of diethyl ether are added dropwise 107 ml (2764 mmol) of n-butyllithium (2.5 M in hexane). The reaction mixture is stirred at −78° C. for 30 min. The mixture is allowed to come to room temperature and cooled again to −78° C., and then a mixture of 40 ml (351 mmol) of trimethyl borate in 50 ml of diethyl ether is added rapidly. After warming to −10° C., hydrolysis is effected with 135 ml of 2 N hydrochloric acid. The organic phase is removed, washed with water, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated to dryness. The residue is taken up in 300 ml of n-heptane, and the colourless solid is filtered off with suction, washed with n-heptane and dried under reduced pressure. Yield: 93.4 g (249 mmol), 97% of theory; purity: 99% by HPLC.

The following compound is obtained in an analogous manner:

	Reactant 1	Product	Yield
a1			81%
a2			80%
a3			78%
a4			70%

The reactant from a4 can be obtained by the following reaction:

To a solution, cooled to −78° C., of 2-bromo-4′-chlorobiphenyl (105.4 g, 0.394 mol) in 1.500 I of THF abs. is added dropwise n-BuLi (157.6 ml, 2.5 M, 0.394 mol) within 45 min. After 40 min at −74° C., 2-phenylfluorenone (101.0 g, 0.394 mol) in solid form is added in portions within 1 h. The mixture is allowed to come to room temperature overnight, then the mixture is admixed cautiously with 100 ml of ammonium chloride solution and 100 ml of demineralized water. In a separating funnel, another 500 ml of demineralized water are added to the THF phase. The aqueous phase is removed. The organic THF phase is concentrated in vacuo. The aqueous phases are extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The flask residue of the THF phases is dissolved in 2 I of ethyl acetate and washed three times with 750 ml of demineralized water. All the combined organic phases are dried with sodium sulphate and concentrated to residue (152.5 g, 0.342 mol, 87%), which is converted further directly.

9-(4′-Chlorobiphenyl-2-yl)-2-phenyl-9H-fluoren-9-ol (120.0 g, 0.270 mol) is initially charged in glacial acetic acid (2.2 I), hydrochloric acid acid (0.21 I) is added and the mixture is heated under reflux for 2 h. The mixture is cooled to room temperature, 1.5 I of demineralized water are added and the precipitate formed is filtered off with suction. The filter residue is washed with demineralized water and then the residue is stirred with ethanol. This gives 2′-chloro-2-phenyl-9,9′-spirobi[fluorene] (101 g, 0.236 mol, 87%).

Step b)

Synthesis of 4-[3-(9H,9′H-[9,9′]bifluorenyl-2-yl)phenyl]-2,6-diphenylpyrimidine

55.6 g (107 mmol) of spiro-9,9′-bifluorene-2-boronic acid, 41.4 g (107 mmol) of 4-(3-bromophenyl)-2,6-diphenylpyrimidine and 44.6 g (210.0 mmol) of tripotassium phosphate are suspended in 500 ml of toluene, 500 ml of dioxane and 500 ml of water. Added to this suspension are 913 mg (3.0 mmol) of tri-o-tolylphosphine and then 112 mg (0.5 mmol) of palladium(II) acetate, and the reaction mixture is heated under reflux for 16 h. After cooling, the organic phase is removed, filtered through silica gel, washed three times with 200 ml of water and then concentrated to dryness. The residue is recrystallized from toluene and from dichloromethane/iso-propanol and finally sublimed under high vacuum (p=5×10⁻⁵ mbar, T=377° C.). The yield is 37.7 g (42.1 mmol), corresponding to 87% of theory.

The following compounds are obtained in an analogous manner:

Reactant 1 Reactant 2
1b
2b
3b
4b
5b
6b
7b
8b
9b
10b
11b
12b
13b
14b
15b
16b
17b
18b
19b
20b
21b
22b
23b
24b
25b
26b
27b
28b
29b
30b
31b
32b
33b
34b
35b
36b
37b
38b
39b
40b
41b
42b
43b
44b
45b
46b
47b
48b
49b
50b
51b
           Product Yield
1b                 83%
2b                 78%
3b                 79%
4b                 87%
5b                 80%
6b                 65%
7b                 81%
8b                 69%
9b                 75%
10b                73%
11b                77%
12b                78%
13b                82%
14b                80%
15b                82%
16b                77%
17b                85%
18b                80%
19b                83%
20b                78%
21b                81%
22b                87%
23b                76%
24b                85%
25b                60%
26b                86%
27b                83%
28b                86%
29b                88%
30b                87%
31b                86%
32b                78%
33b                89%
34b                87%
35b                85%
36b                86%
37b                80%
38b                78%
39b                62%
40b                76%
41b                78%
42b                80%
43b                81%
44b                77%
45b                78%
46b                79%
47b                71%
48b                72%
49b                57%
50b                65%
51b                78%

Production of the OLEDs

In examples C1 to I10 which follow (see Tables 1 and 2), the data of various OLEDs are presented.

Pretreatment for Examples C1-I10:

Glass plaques coated with structured ITO (indium tin oxide) of thickness 50 nm, for improved processing, are coated with 20 nm of PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulphonate), purchased as CLEVIOS™ P VP AI 4083 from Heraeus Precious Metals GmbH, Germany, spun on from aqueous solution). These coated glass plaques form the substrates to which the OLEDs are applied.

The OLEDs basically have the following layer structure: substrate/hole transport layer (HTL)/optional interlayer (IL)/electron blocker layer (EBL)/emission layer (EML)/optional hole blocker layer (HBL)/electron transport layer (ETL)/optional electron injection layer (EIL) and finally a cathode. The cathode is formed by an aluminium layer of thickness 100 nm. The exact structure of the OLEDs can be found in Table 1. The materials required for production of the OLEDs are shown in Table 3.

All materials are applied by thermal vapour deposition in a vacuum chamber. In this case, the emission layer always consists of at least one matrix material (host material) and an emitting dopant (emitter) which is added to the matrix material(s) in a particular proportion by volume by co-evaporation. Details given in such a form as IC1:IC3:TEG1 (55%:35%:10%) mean here that the material IC1 is present in the layer in a proportion by volume of 55%, IC3 in a proportion of 35% and TEG1 in a proportion of 10%. Analogously, the electron transport layer may also consist of a mixture of two materials, where the figures are likewise proportions by volume.

The OLEDs are characterized in a standard manner. For this purpose, the electroluminescence spectra, the current efficiency (measured in cd/A), the power efficiency (measured in Im/W) and the external quantum efficiency (EQE, measured in percent) are determined as a function of luminance, calculated from current-voltage-luminance characteristics (IUL characteristics) assuming Lambertian emission characteristics. The electroluminescence spectra are determined at a luminance of 1000 cd/m², and the CIE 1931 x and y colour coordinates are calculated therefrom. The parameter U1000 in Table 2 refers to the voltage which is required for a luminance of 1000 cd/m². CE1000 and PE1000 respectively refer to the current and power efficiencies which are achieved at 1000 cd/m². Finally, EQE1000 refers to the external quantum efficiency at an operating luminance of 1000 cd/m².

The data for the various OLEDs are collated in Table 2. Examples C1-06 are comparative examples according to the prior art; examples 11-110 show data of OLEDs of the invention.

Some of the examples are elucidated in detail hereinafter, in order to illustrate the advantages of the OLEDs of the invention.

Use of Materials of the Invention as Hole Blocker Layer in OLEDs

The materials of the invention, when used as hole blocker layer (HBL) in OLEDs, give a significant improvement in power efficiency over the prior art. Through use of the inventive compound IC, it is possible to observe an increase in power efficiency by about 13-59% over the prior art PA1, PA2, PA3, PA4, PA5 and PA6 (comparison of experiment I1 with C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6). For example, through the use of a pyrimidine group (I1) rather than a triazine group (C1), it is possible to achieve an increase of about 19% (=1/5.2*100%). The use of a joining group L¹ can lead to an improvement of about 30% (=1.5/5.0*100%; I7 compared to C3), 24% (=1.2/5.0*100%; I1 compared to C3), 18% (=0.9/5.0*100%; I4 compared to C3) or 10% (=0.5/5.0*100%; I3 compared to C3). The comparison of I10 and C6 especially shows the preference for the phenyl linker compared to the triazine linker, which leads here to an increase in power efficiency of 49% (=1.9/3.9*100%). The low efficiency of Comparative Example C6 shows that triazine linkers lead to unfavourable properties. At the same time, the other properties, especially the power efficiency (measured in cd/A), the external quantum efficiency (EQE, measured in percent) as a function of luminance, and voltage which is required for a luminance of 1000 cd/m², are in some cases very distinctly improved by the measures of the invention.

TABLE 1
Structure of the OLEDs
	HTL	IL	EBL	EML	HBL	ETL	EIL
Ex.	Thickness	Thickness	Thickness	thickness	Thickness	thickness	Thickness
C1	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	PA1	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
C2	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	PA2	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
C3	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	PA3	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
C4	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	PA4	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
C5	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	PA5	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
C6	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	PA6	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
I1	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	51b	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
I2	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	IC1:TEG1	3b	ST2:LiQ	—
	70 nm	5 nm	90 nm	(90%:10%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				30 nm		30 nm
I3	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	4b	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
I4	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	8b	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
I5	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	IC1:TEG1	IC1	ST2:22b	LiQ
	70 nm	5 nm	90 nm	(90%:10%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)	3 nm
				30 nm		30 nm
I6	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	IC1:TEG1	17b	ST2:LiQ	—
	70 nm	5 nm	90 nm	(90%:10%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				30 nm		30 nm
I7	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	20b	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
I8	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	42b	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm
I9	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	48b:TEG1	—	ST2:LiQ	—
	70 nm	5 nm	90 nm	(90%:10%)		(50%:50%)
				30 nm		40 nm
I10	SpA1	HATCN	SpMA1	M2:SEB	50b	ST2:LiQ	—
	140 nm	5 nm	20 nm	(95%:5%)	10 nm	(50%:50%)
				20 nm		20 nm

TABLE 2
Data of the OLEDs
		U1000	CE1000	PE1000	EQE	CIE x/y at
	Ex.	(V)	(cd/A)	(lm/W)	1000	1000 cd/m2
	C1	4.7	7.8	5.2	7.4%	0.14/0.13
	C2	4.9	8.1	5.2	7.5%	0.14/0.13
	C3	4.8	7.7	5.0	7.2%	0.14/0.13
	C4	5.2	6.9	4.2	6.5%	0.14/0.13
	C5	4.7	8.3	5.5	6.3%	0.14/0.15
	C6	5.4	6.7	3.9	6.4%	0.14/0.13
	I1	4.4	8.7	6.2	7.9%	0.14/0.13
	I2	3.5	62	56	17.1%	0.33/0.63
	I3	4.7	8.2	5.5	7.5%	0.14/0.13
	I4	4.5	8.5	5.9	7.8%	0.14/0.13
	I5	3.2	65	64	17.5%	0.34/0.62
	I6	3.4	62	57	17.2%	0.33/0.62
	I7	4.3	9.1	6.5	8.2%	0.14/0.13
	I8	4.4	8.9	6.4	8.1%	0.14/0.13
	I9	3.6	56	49	15.7%	0.33/0.63
	I10	4.9	9.0	5.8	8.1%	0.14/0.13

TABLE 3
Structural formulae of the materials for the OLEDs
HATCN
SpA1
SpMA1
LiQ
ST2
M2
SEB
IC1
TEG1
51b
PA1
PA2
PA3
PA4
PA5
PA6
3b
4b
8b
17b
20b
22b
42b
48b
50b

Claims

1-21. (canceled)

22. A compound of formula (I):

23. The compound of claim 22, wherein the compound has a structure of formula (Ia):

24. The compound of claim 22, wherein the compound has a structure of formulae (II) and/or (IIa):

25. The compound of claim 22, wherein not more than two groups X are N.

26. The compound of claim 22, wherein the compound has a structure of formulae (III) and/or (IV):

27. The compound of claim 22, wherein the group Q is selected from the group consisting of structures of formulae (Q-1), (Q-2), (Q-3), and (Q-4):

28. The compound of claim 22, wherein the group Q is selected from the group consisting of structures of formulae (Q-5), (Q-6), (Q-7), (Q-8), (Q-9), and (Q-10):

29. The compound of claim 22, wherein the group Q is selected from the group consisting of structures of formulae (Q-11), (Q-12), (Q-13), and (Q-14):

30. The compound of claim 22, wherein the group L1 is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system having 5 to 14 aromatic or heteroaromatic ring atoms and which is optionally substituted by one or more radicals R1.

31. The compound of claim 22, wherein the group L1 has no more than 2 heteroatoms.

32. The compound of claim 22, wherein the group L1 group is selected from the group consisting of structures of formulae (L1-1) through (L1-108):

33. The compound of claim 22, wherein no more than one pyridine group or pyrimidine group is bonded to the group L1.

34. The compound of claim 22, wherein no pyridine group and exactly one pyrimidine group is bonded to the group L1.

35. The compound of claim 22, wherein the compound of formula (I) comprises no more than one pyridine group.

36. The compound of claim 22, wherein the compound of formula (I) does not comprise a pyridine group and comprises no more than one pyrimidine group.

37. An oligomer, polymer, or dendrimer comprising one or more compounds of claim 22, wherein one or more bonds of the one or more compounds to the polymer, oligomer, or dendrimer are present.

38. A composition comprising at least one compound of claim 22 and at least one further compound selected from the group consisting of fluorescent emitters, phosphorescent emitters, matrix materials, electron transport materials, electron injection materials, hole conductor materials, hole injection materials, electron blocker materials, hole blocker materials, wide band gap materials, and n-dopants.

39. A composition comprising at least one oligomer, polymer, or dendrimer of claim 37 and at least one further compound selected from the group consisting of fluorescent emitters, phosphorescent emitters, matrix materials, electron transport materials, electron injection materials, hole conductor materials, hole injection materials, electron blocker materials, hole blocker materials, wide band gap materials, and n-dopants.

40. A formulation comprising at least one compound of claim 22 and at least one solvent.

41. A formulation comprising at least one oligomer, polymer, or dendrimer of claim 37 and at least one solvent.

42. A formulation comprising at least one composition of claim 38 and at least one solvent.

43. A formulation comprising at least one composition of claim 39 and at least one solvent.

44. A process for preparing the compound of claim 22 comprising reacting a compound comprising at least one pyridine and/or pyrimidine group with a compound comprising at least one spirobifluorene radical in a coupling reaction.

45. A process for preparing the oligomer, polymer, or dendrimer of claim 37 comprising reacting a compound comprising at least one pyridine and/or pyrimidine group with a compound comprising at least one spirobifluorene radical in a coupling reaction.

46. An electronic device comprising at least one compound of claim 22.

47. An electronic device comprising at least one oligomer, polymer, or dendrimer of claim 37.

48. The electronic device of claim 46, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of organic electroluminescent devices, organic integrated circuits, organic field-effect transistors, organic thin-film transistors, organic light-emitting transistors, organic solar cells, organic optical detectors, organic photoreceptors, organic field quench devices, light-emitting electrochemical cells, and organic laser diodes.

47. The electronic device of claim 47, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of organic electroluminescent devices, organic integrated circuits, organic field-effect transistors, organic thin-film transistors, organic light-emitting transistors, organic solar cells, organic optical detectors, organic photoreceptors, organic field quench devices, light-emitting electrochemical cells, and organic laser diodes.