Azide-based crosslinking agents

1. Compounds of formula

wherein

a is 0, 1 or 2,

b is 1, 2, 3 or 4,

c is 0 or 1,

d is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4,

e is 0, 1 or 2,

x is 0, 1 or 2,

y is 0, 1 or 2,

z is 0, 1 or 2,

w is 0, 1 or 2,

n is 0 or 1,

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from an aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety, each of which is optionally substituted with one or more substituent R a selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 10 , CONR 10 R 11 , COR 10 , SO 3 R 10 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 10 , SR 10 , NR 10 R 11 , OCOR 10 and NR 10 COR 11 ,

wherein R 10 and R 11 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, and C 1-20 -alkyl and C 5-8 -cycloalkyl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents R aa at each occurrence, R aa selected from the group consisting of phenyl, COOR 12 , CONR 12 R 13 , COR 12 , SO 3 R 12 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 12 , SR 12 , NR 11 R 12 , OCOR 12 and NR 12 COR 13 , and C 6-14 -aryl and 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituent R ab at each occurrence, R ab selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 -alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, COOR 12 , CONR 12 R 13 , COR 12 , SO 3 R 12 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 12 , SR 12 , NR 12 R 13 , OCOR 12 and NR 12 COR 13 , wherein R 12 and R 13 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from C 1-10 -alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or phenyl, and

at least two adjacent Ar 1 , at least two adjacent Ar 2 , and/or Ar 1 and Ar 2 , both connected to L 2 or if c=0 to each other, can be additionally linked by one or more L a ,

wherein L a is a C 1-4 -alkylene that is optionally substituted with one or more C 1-10 -alkyl, and one or more CH 2 groups of C 1-4 -alkylene can be replaced by C═O, (C═O)O, (C═O)NR 60 , SO 2 —NR 60 , NR 60 , NR 60 R 61 , O or S,

wherein R 60 and R 61 are independently from each other and at each occurrence a C 1-10 -alkyl,

L 1 and L 3 are independently from each other and at each occurrence

 wherein

R 3 and R 4 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 20 , CONR 20 R 21 , COR 20 , SO 3 R 20 , CN, NO 2 , or halogen,

wherein R 20 and R 21 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from H, C 1-20 -alkyl and C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, and C 1-20 -alkyl and C 5-8 -cycloalkyl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents R b at each occurrence, R b selected from the group consisting of phenyl, COOR 22 , CONR 22 R 23 , COR 22 , SO 3 R 22 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 22 , SR 22 , NR 22 R 23 , OCOR 22 and NR 22 COR 23 , and C 6-14 -aryl and 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituent R c at each occurrence, R c selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 -alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, COOR 22 , CONR 22 R 23 , COR 22 , SO 3 R 22 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 22 , SR 22 , NR 22 R 23 , OCOR 22 and NR 22 COR 23 , wherein R 22 and R 23 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from C 1-10 -alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or phenyl,

or, if L 1 or L 3 are

R 3 and R 4 together with the C-atoms to which they are attached form a 5 to 7-membered non-aromatic ring system A,

L 2 is a linking moiety selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 -alkylene, C 2-10 -alkenylene, C 5-8 -cycloalkylene, C 1-4 -alkylene-C 5-8 -cycloalkylene-C 1-4 -alkylene, C 1-4 -alkylene-phenylene-C 1-4 -alkylene, C 2-4 -alkenylene-C 5-8 -cycloalkylene-C 2-4 -alkenylene and C 2-4 -alkenylene-phenylene-C 2-4 -alkenylene, optionally substituted with one or more substituent R f at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 40 , CONR 40 R 41 , COR 40 , SO 3 R 40 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 40 , SR 40 , NR 40 R 41 , OCOR 40 and NR 40 COR 41 ,

wherein R 40 and R 41 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-10 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, wherein C 1-20 -alkyl and C 5-8 -cycloalkyl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents R fa at each occurrence, R fa selected from the group consisting of phenyl, COOR 42 , CONR 42 R 43 , COR 42 , SO 3 R 42 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 42 , SR 42 NR 42 R 43 , OCOR 42 and NR 42 COR 43 ,

wherein C 6-14 -aryl and 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituent R fb at each occurrence, R fa selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 -alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, COOR 42 , CONR 42 R 43 , COR 42 , SO 3 R 42 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 42 , NR 42 R 43 , OCOR 42 and NR 42 COR 43 ,

wherein R 42 and R 43 are independently from each other and at each occurrence selected from C 1-10 -alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or phenyl, and

wherein one or more CH 2 groups of C 1-10 -alkylene, C 1-4 -alkylene, C 2-10 -alkenylene, C 2-4 -alkenylene and/or C 5-8 -cycloalkylene can be replaced by C═O, (C═O)O, (C═O)NR 50 , SO 2 —NR 50 , NR 50 , NR 50 R 51 , O or S, wherein R 50 and R 51 are independently from each other and at each occurrence C 1-10 -alkyl, and

R 1 and R 2 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 30 , CONR 30 R 31 , COR 30 , SO 3 R 30 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 30 , SR 30 , NR 30 R 31 , OCOR 30 or NR 30 COR 31 ,

wherein R 30 and R 31 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, and C 1-20 -alkyl and C 5-8 -cycloalkyl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents R d at each occurrence, R d selected from the group consisting of phenyl, COOR 32 , CONR 32 R 33 , COR 32 , SO 3 R 32 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 32 , SR 32 , NR 32 N 33 , OCOR 32 and NR 32 COR 33 , and C 6-14 -aryl and 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituent R e at each occurrence, R e selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 -alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, COOR 32 , CONR 32 R 33 , COR 32 , SO 3 R 32 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 32 , SR 32 , NR 32 R 33 , OCOR 32 and NR 32 COR 33 ,

wherein R 32 and R 33 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from C 1-10 -alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or phenyl.

2. Compounds of claim 1 , wherein n=0, and the compound of formula (1) is of formula

wherein R 1 , R 2 , x, y, z, w, L 1 , Ar 1 , L 2 , Ar 2 , L 3 , a, b, c, d and e are as depicted in claim 1 .

3. The compounds of claim 1 , wherein

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from an aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety, each of which is optionally substituted substituted with one or more substituent R a selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 10 , CONR 10 R 11 , COR 10 , SO 3 R 10 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 10 , NR 10 R 11 , OCOR 10 and NR 10 COR 11 ,

wherein R 10 and R 11 are independently from each other and at each occurrence, selected from H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, and at least two adjacent Ar 1 , at least two adjacent Ar 2 , and/or Ar 1 and Ar 2 , both connected to L 2 or if c=0 to each other, can be additionally linked by one or more L a , and

L 1 and L 3 are independently from each other and at each occurrence

wherein

R 3 and R 4 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 20 , CONR 20 R 21 , COR 20 , SO 3 R 20 , CN, NO 2 , or halogen,

wherein R 20 and R 21 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl,

or, if L 1 or L 3 are

R 3 and R 4 together with the C-atoms to which they are attached form a 5 to 7-membered non-aromatic ring system A.

4. The compounds of claim 1 , wherein

L 2 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 -alkylene, C 2-10 -alkenylene, C 5-8 -cycloalkylene, each of which is optionally substituted with one or more substituent R f

R 1 and R 2 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, COOR 30 , CONR 30 R 31 , COR 30 , SO 3 R 30 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 30 , SR 30 , or NR 30 R 31 ,

wherein R 30 and R 31 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl.

5. The compounds of claim 1 , wherein

a and e are the same and are 0 or 1,

b is 1, 2 or 3,

c is 0 or 1, and

d is 0, 1, 2 or 3,

x and y are the same and are 0, 1 or 2, and

z and w are the same and are 0, 1 or 2,

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are independently from each other and at each occurrence a C 6-14 -aromatic or a 5 to 12 membered heteroaromatic moiety, which can be substituted with one or more substituent R a selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 10 , CONR 10 R 11 , COR 10 , SO 3 R 10 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 10 , SR 10 , NR 10 R 11 , OCOR 10 and NR 10 COR 11 ,

wherein R 10 and R 11 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl,

wherein at least two adjacent Ar 1 , at least two adjacent Ar 2 , and/or Ar 1 and Ar 2 , both connected to L 2 or if c=0 to each other, can be additionally linked by one or more L a , wherein L a is a linking moiety B,

L 1 and L 3 are the same and are

 wherein

R 3 and R 4 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 20 , CONR 20 R 21 , COR 20 , SO 3 R 20 , CN, NO 2 or halogen,

wherein R 20 and R 21 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl,

L 2 is a linking moiety A, wherein the linking moiety A is selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 -alkylene, C 2-10 -alkenylene, C 5-8 -cycloalkylene, C 1-4 -alkylene-C 5-8 -cycloalkylene-C 1-4 -alkylene, C 1-4 -alkylene-phenylene-C 1-4 -alkylene, C 2-4 -alkenylene-C 5-8 -cycloalkylene-C 2-4 -alkenylene and C 2-4 -alkenylene-phenylene-C 2-4 -alkenylene, which can be substituted with one or more substitutent R f at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 40 , CONR 40 R 41 , COR 40 , SO 3 R 40 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 40 , NR 40 R 41 , OCOR 40 and NR 40 COR 41 ,

wherein R 40 and R 41 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-10 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, and

one or more CH 2 groups of C 1-10 -alkylene, C 1-4 -alkylene, C 2-10 -alkenylene, C 2-4 -alkenylene and/or C 5-8 -cycloalkylene can be replaced by C═O, (C═O)O, (C═O)NR 50 , SO 2 —NR 50 , NR 50 , NR 50 R 51 , O or S,

wherein R 50 and R 51 are independently from each other and at each occurrence C 1-10 -alkyl, and

R 1 and R 2 are the same and are H, C 1-20 -alkyl or C 5-8 -cycloalkyl.

6. The compounds of claim 5 , wherein

a and e are the same and are 0 or 1,

b is 1,

c is 0 or 1, and

d is 0 or 1,

x and y are the same and are 0 or 1, and

z and w are the same and are 1 or 2,

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are the same and are a C 6-14 -aromatic or a 5 to 12 membered heteroaromatic moiety, which can be substituted with one or more substituent R a selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 -alkyl and OR 10 ,

wherein R 10 is independently from each other and at each occurrence C 1-20 -alkyl, and

wherein Ar 1 and Ar 2 , both connected to L 2 or if c=0 to each other, can be additionally linked by one or more L a , wherein L a is a linking moiety B, wherein the linking moiety B is C 1-4 -alkylene, which can be substituted with one or more C 1-10 -alkyl,

L 1 and L 3 are the same and are

 wherein

R 3 and R 4 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, COOR 20 , CONR 20 R 21 , COR 20 , SO 3 R 20 , CN, NO 2 or halogen,

wherein R 20 and R 21 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H or C 1-20 -alkyl,

L 2 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 -alkylene, C 2-10 -alkenylene, C 5-8 -cycloalkylene, C 1-4 -alkylene-C 5-8 -cycloalkylene-C 1-4 -alkylene, C 1-4 -alkylene-phenylene-C 1-4 -alkylene, C 2-4 -alkenylene-C 5-8 -cycloalkylene-C 2-4 -alkenylene and C 2-4 -alkenylene-phenylene-C 2-4 -alkenylene, wherein one or more CH 2 groups of C 1-10 alkylene, C 1-4 -alkylene, C 2-10 -alkenylene, C 2-4 -alkenylene acid/or C 5-8 -cycloalkylene can be replaced by C═O, (C═O)O, (C═O)NR 50 , SO 2 —NR 50 , NR 50 , NR 50 R 51 , O or S,

wherein R 50 and R 51 are independently from each other and at each occurrence C 1-10 -alkyl, and

R 1 and R 2 are the same and are branched C 3-6 -alkyl.

7. The compounds of claim 6 , wherein

x and y are the same and are 0,

z and w are the same and are 2,

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are the same and are

which can be substituted with one or more substituent R a selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 -alkyl and OR 10 ,

wherein R 10 is independently from each other and at each occurrence C 1-10 -alkyl, and

wherein Ar 1 and Ar 2 , both connected to L 2 or if c=0 to each other, can be additionally linked by one or more L a , wherein L a is a linking moiety B, wherein the linking moiety B is methylene substituted with one or more C 1-10 -alkyl,

L 1 and L 3 are the same and are

 wherein

R 3 and R 4 are H, and

L 2 is C 1-10 -alkylene, wherein one or more CH 2 groups of C 1-10 -alkylene can be replaced by C═O, (C═O)O, (C═O)NR 50 , SO 2 —NR 50 , NR 50 , NR 50 R 51 , O or S,

wherein R 50 and R 51 are independently from each other and at each occurrence C 1-10 -alkyl.

8. A process for the preparation of the compounds of formula

of claim 1 ,

which process comprises the step of reacting a compound of formula

wherein a, b, c, d, e, x, y, z, w, Ar 1 , Ar 2 , L 1 , L 3 , L 2 , R 1 and R 2 are as depicted for the compound of formula (1),

with M m+ (N 3 − ) m ,

wherein m is 1, 2 or 3, and M is a metal.

9. A solution comprising one or more compounds of formula (1) of claim 1 , one or more polymers and one or more solvents.

10. The solution of claim 9 , wherein the one or more polymers are dielectric polymers.

11. The solution of claim 10 , wherein the one or more polymers are styrene-based polymers.

12. A process for the preparation of a device which process comprises the steps of

(i) depositing the solution of claim 9 on a support in order to form a layer, and

(ii) exposing the layer of step (i) to radiation in order to form a polymer layer.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the device is an electronic device.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the radiation of step (ii) has a wavelength in the range of 300 to 450 nm.

15. A device obtainable by the process of claim 12 .

16. A polymer prepared with a compound of claim 1 as a cross-linker.

17. The compounds of claim 2 , wherein

R 1 and R 2 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl, COOR 30 , CONR 30 R 31 , COR 30 , SO 3 R 30 , CN, NO 2 , halogen, OR 30 , SR 30 , NR 30 R 31 , OCOR 30 or NR 30 COR 31 ,

wherein R 30 and R 31 are independently from each other and at each occurrence H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 5-8 -cycloalkyl, C 6-14 -aryl or 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl.