Electroluminescent metal complexes with triazoles

1. A compound of the formula

wherein

n1 is an integer of 1 to 3,

m1 and m2 are an integer 0, 1 or 2,

M 1 is a metal with an atomic weight of greater than 40,

L 1 is a monodentate ligand or a bidentate ligand,

L 2 is a monodentate ligand,

Q 2 stands for an organic bridging group completing, together with the bonding carbon atoms of the triazole ring, an annellated, carbocyclic or heterocyclic, non-aromatic ring, which optionally may be substituted;

Q 3 represents a group of forming a condensed aromatic, or heteroaromatic ring, which can optionally be substituted.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the metal M 1 is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ru, Ni, Co, Ir, Pt, Pd, Rh, Re, Os, Tl, Pb, Bi, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Ag and Au.

3. The compound of claim 1 having the formula:

M 2 L a (L b ) w (L c ) x (L′) y (L″) z   (II),

wherein

w=0 or 1, x=0 or 1, y=0, 1 or 2, and z=0 or 1,

M 2 is Pt, Pd, Rh, Re, or Ir,

L′ is a bidentate ligand or a monodentate ligand; with the proviso that: when L′ is a monodentate ligand, y+z=2, and when L′ is a bidentate ligand, z=0;

L″ is a monodentate ligand; and

L a , L b and L c are alike or different from each other and each of L a , L b and L c has the structure (IIIa), (IIIb), or (IV) below:

n is 0, 1 or 2;

A 12 , A 14 , A 16 , A 21 , A 22 , A 23 and A 24 are independently of each other hydrogen, CN, halogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, C 1 -C 24 perfluoroalkyl, C 6 -C 18 aryl, which is optionally substituted by G; —NR 25 R 26 , —CONR 25 R 26 , or —COOR 27 , or C 2 -C 10 heteroaryl, which is optionally substituted by G; or C 5 -C 12 cycloalkyl, C 5 -C 12 cycloalkoxy, C 5 -C 12 cycloalkylthio, each of which is optionally substituted by G; or 2 adjacent radicals A 12 , A 14 ; or A 14 , A 17 ; or A 17 , A 16 ; or A 21 , A 22 ; or A 22 , A 23 ; or A 23 , A 24 ; or A 18 , A 22 ; or A 23 , A 19 , bonding to vicinal atoms, together are a group of formula

wherein A 41 , A 42 , A 43 , A 44 , A 45 , A 46 and A 47 are independently of each other H, halogen, CN, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 1 -C 24 perfluoroalkyl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, C 6 -C 18 aryl, which may optionally be substituted by G, —NR 25 R 26 , —CONR 25 R 26 9 or —COOR 27 , or C 2 -C 10 heteroaryl;

while each of A 11 , A 13 , A 15 , A′ 21 , A′ 22 , A′ 23 and A′ 24 independently is hydrogen or C 1 -C 24 alkyl;

or 2 adjacent radicals A 11 , A 21 ; A 13 , A 14 ; A 15 , A 16 ; A′ 21 , A 21 ; A′ 22 , A 22 ; A′ 23 , A 23 ; A′ 24 , A 24 , bonding to the same carbon atom, together are ═O or ═NR 25 or ═N—OR 25 or ═N—OH;

E 1 is O, S, or NR 25 ,

R 25 and R 26 are independently of each other C 6 -C 18 aryl, C 7 -C 18 aralkyl, or C 1 -C 24 alkyl, R 27 is C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 6 -C 18 aryl, or C 7 -C 18 aralkyl; and

Y 1 , Y 2 and Y 3 are independently of each other a group of formula

R 41 is the bond to M 2 ,

R 71 is the bond to M 2 ,

R 42 is hydrogen, or C 1 -C 24 alkyl, CN, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, which is substituted by halogen, C 6 -C 18 -aryl, C 6 -C 18 -aryl which is substituted by C 1 -C 12 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy,

R 43 is hydrogen, CN, halogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, which is substituted by F, C 6 -C 18 aryl, C 6 -C 18 aryl which is substituted by C 1 -C 12 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, —CONR 25 R 26 , —COOR 27 ,

E 2 is —S—, —O—, or —NR 25′ —, wherein R 25′ is C 1 -C 24 alkyl, or C 6 -C 10 aryl,

R 110 is H, CN, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, —NR 25 R 26 , —CONR 25 R 26 , or —COOR 27 , or

R 42 and R 43 are a group of formula

wherein A 41 , A 42 , A 43 , A 44 , A 45 , A 46 and A 47 are independently of each other H, halogen, CN, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 1 -C 24 perfluoroalkyl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, C 6 -C 18 aryl, which may optionally be substituted by G, —NR 25 R 26 , —CONR 25 R 26 9 or —COOR 27 , or C 2 -C 10 heteroaryl;

R 44 is hydrogen, CN or C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, which is substituted by halogen, C 6 -C 18 -aryl, C 6 -C 18 -aryl which is substituted by C 1 -C 12 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy,

R 45 is hydrogen, CN or C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, which is substituted by halogen, C 6 -C 18 -aryl, C 6 -C 18 -aryl which is substituted by C 1 -C 12 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy,

A 11′ , A 12′ , A 13′ , and A 14′ are independently of each other H, halogen, CN, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, —NR 25 R 26 , —CONR 25 R 26 , or —COOR 27 ,

R 68 and R 69 are independently of each other C 1 -C 24 alkyl, which can be interrupted by one or two oxygen atoms,

R 70 , R 72 , R 73 , R 74 , R 75 , R 76 , R 90 , R 91 , R 92 and R 93 are independently of each other H, halogen, CN, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, —NR 25 R 26 , —CONR 25 R 26 , or —COOR 27 , wherein R 25 , R 26 and R 27 are as defined above and

G is C 1 -C 18 alkyl, —OR 305 , —SR 305 , —NR 305 R 306 , —CONR 305 R 306 , or —CN, wherein R 305 and R 306 are independently of each other C 6 -C 18 aryl; C 6 -C 18 aryl which is substituted by C 1 -C 18 alkyl, or C 1 -C 18 alkoxy; C 1 -C 18 alkyl, or C 1 -C 18 alkyl which is interrupted by —O—; or

R 305 and R 306 together form a five or six membered ring.

4. The compound of claim 3 , wherein w is 1, x is 0 or 1, y is 0 or 1, and z=0, with x+y=1, and M 2 is Rh, Re, or Ir.

5. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the bidentate ligand L 1 is a compound of formula

wherein the ring A,

represents an optionally substituted aryl group which can optionally contain heteroatoms,

the ring B,

represents an optionally substituted nitrogen containing aryl group, which can optionally contain further heteroatoms, or the ring A may be taken with the ring B binding to the ring A to form a ring.

6. The compound of claim 5 having a structure (Va), (Vb), (Vc), (Vd), (Ve), (Vf) or (Vg):

M 3 is Rh, or Re,

n is 0, 1 or 2,

A 12 ; A 14 ; A 16 , A 21 ; A 22 , A 23 and A 24 are independently of each other hydrogen, CN, halogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, C 1 -C 24 perfluoroalkyl, C 6 -C 18 aryl, which is optionally substituted by G; —NR 25 R 26 , —CONR 25 R 26 , or —COOR 27 , or C 2 -C 10 heteroaryl, which is optionally substituted by G; or C 5 -C 12 cycloalkyl, C 5 -C 12 cycloalkoxy, C 5 -C 12 cycloalkylthio, each of which is optionally substituted by G; or 2 adjacent radicals A 12 , A 14 ; or A 14 , A 17 ; or A 17 , A 16 ; or A 21 , A 22 ; or A 22 ; A 23 ; or A 23 , A 24 ; or A 18 , A 22 ; or A 23 , A 19 , bonding to vicinal atoms, together are a group of formula

wherein A 41 , A 42 , A 43 , A 44 , A 45 , A 46 and A 47 are independently of each other H, halogen, CN, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 1 -C 24 perfluoroalkyl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, C 6 -C 18 aryl, which may optionally be substituted by G, —NR 25 R 26 , —CONR 25 R 26 ; or —COOR 27 , or C 2 -C 10 heteroaryl;

while each of A 11 , A 13 , A 15 , A′ 21 , A′ 22 , A′ 23 and A′ 24 independently is hydrogen or C 1 -C 24 alkyl;

or 2 adjacent radicals A 11 ; A 12 ; A 13 ; A 14 ; A 15 ; A 16 ; A′ 21 , A 21 ; A′ 22 , A 22 ; A′ 23 , A 23 ; A′ 24 , A 24 , bonding to the same carbon atom, together are ═O or ═NR 25 .

7. The compound of claim 6 having a structure (Va), (Vb), (Vc), (Vd), (Ve), (Vf) or (Vg):

wherein L′ is a bidentate ligand selected from

R 11 and R 15 are independently of each other hydrogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 6 -C 18 aryl, C 2 -C 10 heteroaryl, or C 1 -C 8 perfluoroalkyl,

R 12 and R 16 are independently of each other hydrogen, or C 1 -C 8 alkyl, and

R 13 and R 17 are independently of each other hydrogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 6 -C 18 aryl, C 2 -C 10 heteroaryl, C 1 -C 8 perfluoroalkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, and

R 14 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, or C 7 -C 11 aralkyl,

R 18 is C 6 -C 10 aryl,

R 19 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl,

R 20 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, or C 6 -C 10 aryl,

R 21 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, which may be partially or fully fluorinated,

R 22 and R 23 are independently of each other C n (H+F) 2n+1 , or C 6 (H+F) 5 , R 24 can be the same or different at each occurrence and is selected from H, or C n (H+F) 2n+1 ,

p is 2, or 3

R 42 is H, F, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or C 1 -C 4 perfluoroalkyl,

R 43 is H, F, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 perfluoroalkyl, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or C 6 -C 10 aryl,

R 44 is H, F, C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 7 -C 15 phenylalkyl, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or C 1 -C 4 perfluoroalkyl,

R 45 is H, F, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or C 1 -C 4 perfluoroalkyl, and

R 46 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 6 -C 18 aryl, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or C 6 -C 18 aryl, which is substituted by C 1 -C 8 alkyl,

or the bidentate ligand L′ is selected from

8. A compound of the formula

wherein

G 1 and G 2 , independently, are hydrogen, CN, halogen, C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 1 -C 12 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy, C 1 -C 12 alkylthio, C 5 -C 12 cycloalkyl, C 5 -C 12 cycloalkoxy, C 5 -C 12 cycloalkylthio, C 6 -C 12 aryl, C 2 -C 10 heteroaryl, C 7 -C 15 arylalkyl, C 6 -C 12 aryloxy, C 6 -C 12 arylamino;

or G 1 and G 2 , bonding to vicinal atoms, together are a group of formula

wherein A 41 , A 42 , A 43 , A 44 , A 45 , A 46 and A 47 are independently of each other H, halogen, CN, C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 1 -C 12 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy, C 1 -C 12 alkylthio, C 6 -C 12 aryl; especially

or G 1 and G 2 , bonding to the same carbon atom, together are ═O or ═NR 25 or ═N—OR 25 or ═N—OH; where R 25 is C 1 -C 12 alkyl or cyclohexyl;

G 3 , G 4 , G 5 and G 6 independently are selected from hydrogen, C 4 -C 18 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 perfluoroalkyl, fluoro; and at least one of G 3 , G 4 , G 5 and G 6 is different from hydrogen.

9. An organic electronic device, comprising an emitting layer wherein the emitting layer comprises a compound according to claim 1 .

10. The device of claim 9 , further comprising a hole transport layer selected from polyvinyl-carbazol, N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-bis(3-methylphenyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine (TPD), 1,1-bis[(di-4-tolylamino)phenyl]cyclohexane (TAPC), N,N′-bis(4-methylphenyl)-N,N′-bis(4-ethylphenyl)-[1,1′-(3,3′-dimethyl)biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine (ETPD), tetrakis-(3-methylphenyl)-N,N,N′,N′-2,5-phenylenediamine (PDA), a-phenyl-4-N,N-diphenylaminostyrene (TPS), p-(diethylamino)benzaldehydediphenylhydrazone (DEH), triphenylamine (TPA), bis[4-(N,N-diethylamino)-2-methylphenyl](4-methylphenyl)methane (MPMP), 1-phenyl-3-[p-(diethylamino)styryl]-5-[p-(diethylamino)phenyl]pyrazoline (PPR or DEASP), 1,2-trans-bis(9H-carbazol-9-yl)cyclobutane (DCZB), N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis (4-methylphenyl)-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine (TTB), porphyrinic compounds, and combinations thereof.

11. An organic light emitting diode (OLED) comprising a compound according to claim 1 .

12. The compound of claim 3 wherein

when A 12 , A 14 , A 16 , A 21 , A 22 , A 23 or A 24 are C 2 -C 10 heteroaryl, the heteroaryl is a group of formula

when 2 adjacent radicals A 12 , A 14 ; or A 14 , A 17 ; or A 17 , A 16 ; or A 21 , A 22 ; or A 22 , A 23 ; or A 23 , A 24 ; or A 18 , A 22 ; or A 23 , A 19 , bonding to vicinal atoms, together are a group of formula

said group is

R 43 is hydrogen, CN, F, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, which is substituted by F, C 6 -C 18 aryl, C 6 -C 18 aryl which is substituted by C 1 -C 12 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, —CONR 25 R 26 , —COOR 27 ,

And when R 305 and R 306 together form a five or six membered ring, the five or six membered ring, is

13. The compound of claim 12 , wherein w is 1, x is 0 or 1, y is 0 or 1, and z=0, with x+y=1, and M 2 is Rh, Re, or Ir.

14. The compound of claim 3 , wherein the bidentate ligand L′ is a group of formula

wherein R 206 , R 207 , R 208 , and R 209 are independently of each other hydrogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 2 -C 24 alkenyl, C 2 -C 24 alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, cyano, acyl, alkyloxycarbonyl, a nitro group, or a halogen atom; the ring A represents an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group; or the ring A may be taken with the pyridyl group binding to the ring A to form a ring; the alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, aryl group, heteroaryl group, alkoxy group, alkylthio group, acyl group, and alkyloxycarbonyl group represented by R 206 , R 207 , R 208 , and R 209 may be substituted;

or is a group of the formula

R 1 to R 4 are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 perfluoroalkyl, or C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, —S—C 1 -C 4 alkyl, —O—C 1 -C 4 perfluoroalkyl, —SO 2 X 22 , —CO 2 H, —CO 2 X 22 , wherein X 22 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl; C 6 H 4 CF 3 , cyclohexyl, optionally substituted C 6 -C 10 aryl, optionally substituted —O—CH 2 —C 6 -C 10 aryl, or optionally substituted —O—C 6 -C 10 aryl,

y is 0, or 1,

the group C,

is a group of the following formula

R 5 is a substitutent, especially hydrogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 2 -C 24 alkenyl, C 2 -C 24 alkynyl, C 2 -C 24 alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, C 1 -C 24 -carboxylate, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 2 -C 24 alkenyloxy, C 2 -C 24 alkynyloxy, or aryloxy, which can optionally be substituted with C 1 -C 8 alkyl, halogen, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or with a phenyl group, which can be substituted with halogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy; and

Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 , Z 5 and Z 6 are independently of each other selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 2 -C 24 alkenyl, C 2 -C 24 alkynyl, C 2 -C 24 alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, C 1 -C 24 carboxylate, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 2 -C 24 alkenyloxy, C 2 -C 24 alkynyloxy, or aryloxy, wherein each of Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 and Z 4 optionally being substituted with C 1 -C 8 alkyl, halogen, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or with a phenyl group, which can optionally be substituted with halogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or

Z 1 and Z 2 , if possible, form an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, and/or

Z 3 , Z 4 , Z 5 and Z 6 , if possible, form an alkyl or heteroalkyl ring.

15. The compound of claim 5 , wherein the bidentate ligand L 1 is a group of formula

wherein R 206 , R 207 , R 208 , and R 209 are independently of each other hydrogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 2 -C 24 alkenyl, C 2 -C 24 alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 alkylthio, cyano, acyl, alkyloxycarbonyl, a nitro group, or a halogen atom; the ring A represents an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group; or the ring A may be taken with the pyridyl group binding to the ring A to form a ring; the alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, aryl group, heteroaryl group, alkoxy group, alkylthio group, acyl group, and alkyloxycarbonyl group represented by R 206 , R 207 , R 208 , and R 209 may be substituted;

or is a group of the formula

R 1 to R 4 are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 perfluoroalkyl, or C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, —S—C 1 -C 4 alkyl, —O—C 1 -C 4 perfluoroalkyl, —SO 2 X 22 , —CO 2 H, —CO 2 X 22 , wherein X 22 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl; C 6 H 4 CF 3 , cyclohexyl, optionally substituted C 6 -C 10 aryl, optionally substituted —O—CH 2 —C 6 -C 10 aryl, or optionally substituted —O—C 6 -C 10 aryl,

y is 0, or 1,

the group C,

is a group of the following formula

R 5 is a substitutent, especially hydrogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 2 -C 24 alkenyl, C 2 -C 24 alkynyl, C 2 -C 24 alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, C 1 -C 24 carboxylate, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 2 -C 24 alkenyloxy, C 2 -C 24 alkynyloxy, or aryloxy, which can optionally be substituted with C 1 -C 8 alkyl, halogen, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or with a phenyl group, which can be substituted with halogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy; and

Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 , Z 5 and Z 6 are independently of each other selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 2 -C 24 alkenyl, C 2 -C 24 alkynyl, C 2 -C 24 alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, C 1 -C 24 carboxylate, C 1 -C 24 alkoxy, C 2 -C 24 alkenyloxy, C 2 -C 24 alkynyloxy, or aryloxy, wherein each of Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 and Z 4 optionally being substituted with C 1 -C 8 alkyl, halogen, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or with a phenyl group, which can optionally be substituted with halogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, or C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or

Z 1 and Z 2 , if possible, form an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, and/or

Z 3 , Z 4 , Z 5 and Z 6 , if possible, form an alkyl or heteroalkyl ring.

16. An oxygen sensitive indicator comprising a compound according to claim 1 .

17. A phosphorescent indicator in a bioassay comprising a compound according to claim 1 .