Organic electroluminescent devices with high luminance

1. A multilayer electroluminescent device comprising a cathode, an anode, a light emitting layer (LEL) and a layer disposed between the cathode and anode containing a naphthalene compound represented by formula (1):

wherein

m is 0, 1 or 2;

each R a is an independently selected substituent and each n is independently 0 to 3;

each Ar a is an independently selected aromatic group; and

each Ar b is a phenyl or naphthyl group;

provided that two ring substituents do not join to form a ring.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein m is 0.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein m is 1.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein m is 2.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the naphthalene compound is a 1,5-diamino compound.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the naphthalene compound is a 2,6 diamino compound.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one R a group is an alkyl or aryl group.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein at least one R a is a methyl group.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one Ar a is a phenyl or heteroaromatic group.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one Ar 6 is a para-substituted phenyl group.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the LEL contains a metal complex of a quinoline derivative.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the LEL contains tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (AlQ 3 ).

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the LEL contains a compound having the formula:

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the naphthalene compound is represented by formula (1A):

wherein

each Ar a , R a , and n are as defined in claim 1 and each m is independently 0-4.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the naphthalene compound is represented by formula (1B):

wherein

each R a and n is as defined in claim 1 , each m is 0-4, and each p is independently 0-5.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the naphthalene compound is contained in a layer that is adjacent to the anode.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the naphthalene compound is contained in a layer that is not adjacent to the anode.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the naphthalene compound is contained in a layer that is not adjacent to the LEL.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein the naphthalene compound functions to improve hole-transporting and there is present in a layer between the anode and LEL a second compound that functions to improve hole transporting.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the second compound is represented by structural formula (C):

wherein Q 1 and Q 2 are independently selected aromatic tertiary amine moieties and G is a linking group or a bond.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the compound of formula C is contained in the layer adjacent to the LEL.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the second compound is 4,4′-Bis[N-(2-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl or [1,1′-Biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine,N,N′-di-1-naphthalenyl-N,N′-di-2-naphthalenyl.

23. The device of claim 1 containing in the LEL the compound tris(8-quinolinolato) aluminum (III) or a compound represented by the formula:

24. A naphthalene compound represented by formula (1):

wherein

m is 0, 1 or 2;

each R a is an independently selected substituent and each n is independently 0 to 3;

each Ar a is an independently selected aromatic group; and

each Ar b is an independently selected phenyl or naphthyl group;

provided that two ring substituents do not join to form a ring; and

the nitrogen substituents of the naphthalene compound are located so as to form a 1,5- or 2,6-diamino compound.

25. A static or motion imaging device incorporating the device of claim 1 .