The rapid construction of bis-BN dipyrrolyl[a,j]anthracenes and a direct comparison with a carbonaceous analogue

Abstract

A series of bis-BN dipyrrolyl[a,j]anthracenes and one of their representative carbonaceous analogues have been synthesized in a short number of steps. Bis-BN dipyrrolyl[a,j]anthracenes are strongly fluorescent in solution. Both the absorption and emission spectra of bis-BN dipyrrolyl[a,j]anthracenes are blue shifted compared to the carbonaceous analogue. Moreover, organic light-emitting diodes based on these compounds were fabricated via a solution method. In particular, device II with 4b as an emitter presents a pure-blue emitting color with a high current efficiency (3.84 cd A⁻¹) and CIE coordinates of (0.18, 0.21), whereas device VII based on the carbonaceous analogue displays yellowish-green luminescence with lower efficiency.