Complexes for use in optoelectronic components

1. An organic electroluminescent device comprising a luminescent metal complex which has a ΔE separation between the lowest triplet state and the higher singlet state of between 50 cm −1 and 500 cm −1 wherein the metal complex is a binuclear complex and wherein the metals having a d 8 electron configuration are used in the metal complex.

2. The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1 , wherein the metal complex is employed in the emitter layer, where the proportion of the metal complex in the emitter layer is between 0.1 and 50% by weight.

3. The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1 , wherein metals Rh(I), Ir(I), Pd(II), Pt(II) or Au(III) is used in the metal complexes.

4. The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1 , wherein Au(I) is used in the metal complexes.

5. An organic electroluminescent device comprising a luminescent metal complex which has a ΔE separation between the lowest triplet state and the higher singlet state of between 50 cm −1 and 500 cm −1 , wherein the metal complex is a binuclear complex, and wherein the binuclear metal complex has the general formula I-VIII:

where:

M, M′ are, identically or differently on each occurrence, Rh(I), Ir(I), Pd(II), Pt(II) or Au(III);

D∩D is, identically or differently on each occurrence, a bidentate ligand containing the donor atoms D;

L 1 -L 6 is, identically or differently on each occurrence, a monodentate ligand

n is the charge of the complex and is −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

6. The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 5 , wherein M-M′ in structures I to VIII is selected from:

Rh(I)—Rh(I)

Ir(I)—Ir(I)

Pd(II)—Pd(II)

Pt(II)—Pt(II)

Au(I)—Au(III)

Rh(I)—Ir(I)

Ir(I)—Pd(II)

Pd(II)—Pt(II)

Pt(II)—Au(I)

Au(I)—Au(I)

Rh(I)—Pd(II)

Ir(I)—Pt(II)

Pd(II)—Au(I)

Pt(II)—Au(III)

Rh(I)—Pt(II)

Ir(I)—Au(I)

Pd(II)—Au(III)

Rh(I)—Au(I)

Ir(I)—Au(III)

Rh(I)—Au(III)

7. The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 5 , wherein the ligands L 1 to L 6 , are selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitriles, isonitriles, ethers, sulfides, selenides, amines, imines, phosphines, phosphites, arsines, stibines, nitrogen-containing heterocycles, hydride, deuteride, F, Cl, Br, I, azide, alkylacetylides, aryl- or heteroarylacetylides, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, hydroxide, cyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, aliphatic or aromatic alcoholates, aliphatic or aromatic thioalcoholates, amides, carboxylates, anionic, nitrogen-containing heterocycles, aliphatic or aromatic phosphides PR 2 − , aliphatic or aromatic selenides SeR − , O 2− , S 2− , nitrenes, diamines, diimines, heterocycles containing two nitrogen atoms, diphosphines, 1,3-diketonates derived from 1,3-diketones, 3-ketonates derived from 3-ketoesters, carboxylates derived from aminocarboxylic acids, salicyliminates derived from salicylimines, dialcoholates, dithiolates derived from dithiols, and ligands which, with the metal, form a cyclometallated five- or six-membered ring with at least one metal-carbon bond.

8. The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 5 , wherein the donor groups D are selected from R 2 N—, R 2 P—, R 2 As—, R 2 N—, CN—, NC—, RO—, RS—, RSe—, RN═, − O—, − S—, − Se—, − NR—, − CH 2 —, − CH═ or − C≡C—, where “—” or “═” denotes the bond from the group D to the bridge, and where R is a substituent.

9. The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 5 , wherein the ligand D∩D is selected from the group consisting of R 2 E-CR 2 -ER 2 ; R 2 E-CR 2 —CR 2 -ER 2 ; R 2 E-NR-ER 2 ; R 2 E-O-ER 2 , where E is, identically or differently on each occurrence, N, P or As, dinitriles NC∩CN, diisonitriles CN∩NC, dialcohols HO∩OH, diethers RO∩OR, dithiols HS∩SH, dithioethers RS∩SR, diselenides HSe∩SeH, RSe∩SeR or combinations of the donor groups, where the bridge ∩ stands for (CR 2 ) n (n=1-6) or aromatic systems, and where R stands for a substituent.

10. A process for the generation of light having a certain wavelength, including the step of providing the complex according to one of formulae I to VIII according to claim 5 .

11. A process for the generation of blue emission using a metal complex according to one of formulae I to V according to claim 5 , where the metal centres M and M′ stand, identically or differently, for Pt or Pd.

12. The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 5 , wherein n is 0.