A new fully bridged spirophenylacridine derivative: synthesis and characterization

Abstract

A new spirophenylacridine (SPA) derivative, SPA-SO2, was synthesized via full bridging of sulfone, carbonyl, and oxygen to the SPA core. Using its precursor molecule SPA-S as a reference, the two molecules were systematically characterized, including single crystal structures, electrochemical properties, and photophysical properties. Notably, SPA-SO2 exhibits a blue shift and narrowing of spectra compared to SPA-S. Theoretical investigations provided mechanistic insights, suggesting that bridging modifications can precisely modulate molecular properties by altering the electronic structure. Finally, SPA-SO2 was applied in electroluminescence devices, exhibiting deep blue emission at 436 nm and achieving a maximum external quantum efficiency of 9.4%. This work introduces a bridging modification strategy for SPA, contributing to advancements in optoelectronic materials.