Dendrimer and organic light-emitting device using the same

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0069170, filed on Jul. 16, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

1. Field

The present embodiments relate to a dendrimer and an organic light-emitting device including an organic layer having the dendrimer.

2. Description of the Related Technology

An organic light-emitting device includes an anode, a hole transport layer, an emission layer, an electron transport layer and a cathode, which are sequentially formed on a substrate. In this regard, the hole transport layer, the emission layer, and the electron transport layer are thin films comprising organic compounds.

An organic light-emitting device is a self-emitting device in which when a current is applied to a fluorescent or phosphorescent organic layer, electrons are combined with holes in the organic layer, thereby emitting light. Since organic light-emitting devices are lightweight, can be fabricated using simple constituent elements in an easy fabrication process, can realize superior image quality, high color purity, and dynamic images, and operate with low power consumption, diverse research is being conducted into organic light-emitting devices. An organic light-emitting device may include a hole-related layer such as a hole injection layer and a hole transport layer and an electron-related layer such as an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer in addition to an organic emission layer between an anode and a cathode.

Organic light-emitting devices may be manufactured using a deposition or wet process. In general, an organic material having a molecular weight of 1,000 or less is suitable for the deposition process. It is well known that an organic light-emitting device manufactured using a low-molecular weight compound such as a fluorene-based compound by using a deposition process has excellent luminance. However, if an organic light-emitting device is manufactured using a low-molecular weight compound for deposition (such as a fluorene-based compound) by using a wet process, various problems, for example, crystallization during a drying process after forming a layer may occur. When crystallization is initiated, a start point, as a seed, extends to form a dark spot in the organic light-emitting device. In order to prevent this crystallization, a large-size substituent or a substituent that is not crystallized may be introduced, or an organic material having a molecular weight of about several thousands may be used to inhibit alignment or arrangement of molecules. A dendrimer or a polymer may be used in order to increase the molecular weight of the organic material.

Since synthesis and purification of a polymer are difficult and the polymer has diverse molecular weights, it is difficult to regulate physical properties, such as energy level and thermal characteristics, which determine emission characteristics. However, synthesis and purification of a dendrimer are relatively easier than those of the polymer and the dendrimer is a single compound of which the molecular structure is easy to control, and thus physical properties thereof which affect characteristics of an organic light-emitting device may be regulated.

Therefore, there is need to develop an organic light-emitting device using a dendrimer.

The present embodiments provide a dendrimer having excellent electrical stability, high charge transporting capability, and high light-emitting capability.

The present embodiments provide an organic light-emitting device including the dendrimer.

According to an aspect of the present embodiments, there is provided a dendrimer including a core unit, a bridge unit, and a dendron unit, wherein the core unit includes a trivalent or tetravalent functional group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aromatic hydrocarbon, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 hetero aromatic hydrocarbon,

the bridge unit includes a divalent or trivalent functional group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aromatic hydrocarbon and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 hetero aromatic hydrocarbon, and the dendron unit includes a monovalent fluorene-based functional group represented by Formula 1 below:

where Z is selected from the group consisting of a single bond,

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group,

X 1 and X 2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen (N), boron (B), and phosphorus (P), and X′ is selected from the group consisting of oxygen (O), sulfur (S), SO 2 , and CH 2 ,

Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , Y 5 , and Y 6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkynylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 cycloalkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkoxylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 arylene group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroarylene group,

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, deuterium, tritium, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkynyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group, and R′ and R″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, deuterium, tritium, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group, wherein at least two adjacent groups of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R′, and R″ are linked to form a saturated or unsaturated ring, and

* is a binding site between one selected from the group consisting of Ar 1 , Z and a fluorene group and the bridge unit.

A number average molecular weight of the dendrimer may be from about 1,000 to 300,000.

The dendrimer may further include a surface unit that is selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group at the end of the dendron unit.

According to another aspect of the present embodiments, there is provided an organic light-emitting device including a pair of electrodes and an organic layer interposed between the electrodes, wherein the organic layer includes the dendrimer.

The above and other features and advantages of the present embodiments will become more apparent by describing in detail example embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the structure of an organic light-emitting device according to an embodiment.

A dendrimer according to an embodiment includes a core unit, a bridge unit, and a dendron unit, wherein the core unit includes a trivalent or tetravalent functional group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aromatic hydrocarbon, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 hetero aromatic hydrocarbon, the bridge unit includes a divalent or trivalent functional group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aromatic hydrocarbon and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 hetero aromatic hydrocarbon, and the dendron unit includes a monovalent fluorene-based functional group represented by Formula 1 below:

In Formula 1, Z is selected from the group consisting of a single bond,

wherein Z may be in a divalent oxidation state when it is linked to the bridge unit. Hereinafter, it is assumed that Z is in a divalent oxidation state when it is linked to the bridge unit.

Dendrimer is a tree-like highly branched polymer molecule comprising a branch-like unit repeatedly extending from a core unit. The dendrimer includes a core unit positioned at the center of the entire spherical structure, a bridge unit regularly and repeatedly extending from the core unit, and a dendron unit connected to the bridge unit and positioned at the opposite side of the core unit.

In the dendrimer, the core unit that is in a trivalent or tetravalent oxidation state is positioned at the center of the entire spherical structure, generation is increased when the bridge unit is linked to the core unit, and the dendron unit is positioned at the end of the bridge unit.

The dendron unit may include a monovalent fluorene-based functional group represented by Formula 1.

In Formula 1, Ar 1 and Ar 2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group. In this regard, if Ar i is linked to the bridge unit, Ar 1 is in a divalent oxidation state and may be selected from the group consisting of a C 5 -C 50 arylene group and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroarylene group. Hereinafter, it is assumed that Ar 1 is in a divalent oxidation state when it is linked to the bridge unit.

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a phenyl group, a halophenylene group, a cyanophenylene group, a phenoxyphenyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl phenyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) phenyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy phenyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkoxy) phenyl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl phenyl group, a di(C 5 -C 15 aryl) phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a halonaphthyl group, a cyanonaphthyl group, a phenoxynaphthyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl naphthyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) naphthyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy naphthyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkoxy) naphthyl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl naphthyl group, a di(C 5 -C 15 aryl) naphthyl group, an anthryl group, a halo-anthryl group, a cyanoanthryl group, a phenoxyanthryl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl anthryl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) anthryl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy anthryl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkoxy) anthryl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl anthryl group, a di(C 5 -C 15 aryl) anthryl group, a phenanthryl group, a halophenanthryl group, a cyanophenanthryl group, a phenoxyphenanthryl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl phenanthryl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) phenanthryl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy phenanthryl group, a di(C i -C is alkoxy) phenanthryl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl phenanthryl group, a di(C 5 -C i 5 aryl) phenanthryl group, a fluorenyl group, a halofluorenyl group, a cyanofluorenyl group, a phenoxyfluorenyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl fluorenyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) fluorenyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy fluorenyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkoxy) fluorenyl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl fluorenyl group, a di(C 5 -C 15 aryl) fluorenyl group, a pyridyl group, a halopyridyl group, a cyanopyridyl group, a phenoxypyridyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl pyridyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) pyridyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy pyridyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkoxy) pyridyl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl pyridyl group, a di(C 5 -C 15 aryl) pyridyl group, a pyrenyl group, a halopyrenyl group, a cyanopyrenyl group, a phenoxypyrenyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl pyrenyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) pyrenyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy pyrenyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkoxy) pyrenyl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl pyrenyl group, a di(C 5 -C 15 aryl) pyrenyl group, a phenanthrolinyl group, a halophenanthrolinyl group, a cyanophenanthrolinyl group, a phenoxyphenanthrolinyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl phenanthrolinyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) phenanthrolinyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy phenanthrolinyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkoxy) phenanthrolinyl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl phenanthrolinyl group, a di(C 5 -C 15 aryl) phenanthrolinyl group, a quinolinyl group, a haloquinolinyl group, a cyanoquinolinyl group, a phenoxyquinolinyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl quinolinyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) quinolinyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy quinolinyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkoxy) quinolinyl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl quinolinyl group, a di(C 5 -C 15 aryl) quinolinyl group, a carbazolyl group, a halocarbazolyl group, a cyanocarbazolyl group, a phenoxycarbazolyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl carbazolyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkyl) carbazolyl group, a C 1 -C 15 alkoxy carbazolyl group, a di(C 1 -C 15 alkoxy) carbazolyl group, a C 5 -C 15 aryl carbazolyl group, and a di(C 5 -C 15 aryl) carbazolyl group.

For example, Ar 1 and Ar 2 may be each independently a single bond, a phenyl group, a halophenylene group, a cyanophenylene group, a biphenyl group, a dimethylfluorenyl group, a carbazolyl group, and a diphenylcarbazolyl group.

In Formula 1, X 1 and X 2 may be each independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen (N), boron (B) and phosphorus (P). For example, both of X 1 and X 2 may be nitrogen (N).

In addition, X′ may be selected from the group consisting of oxygen (O), sulfur (S), SO 2 , and CH 2 . For example, X′ may be sulfur (S).

In Formula 1, Y 1 to Y 6 may be each independently selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 cycloalkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkoxylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 arylene group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroarylene group.

Y 1 to Y 6 may be each independently selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a phenyl group, a methylphenyl group, an ethylphenyl group, an o-, m- and p-fluorophenyl group, a dichlorophenyl group, a cyanophenyl group, a dicyanophenyl group, a trifluoromethoxyphenyl group, a biphenyl group, a halobiphenyl group, a cyanobiphenyl group, a methylbiphenyl group, an ethylbiphenyl group, a methoxybiphenyl group, and an ethoxybiphenyl group.

For example, Y 1 to Y 6 may be each independently a single bond, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a phenyl group, or a diphenyl group.

In Formula 1, R 1 , to R 5 may be each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, deuterium, tritium, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkynyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group, and R′ and R″ may be each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, deuterium, tritium, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group, wherein at least two adjacent groups of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R′ and R″ are linked to form a saturated or unsaturated ring.

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R′ and R″ may be each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, deuterium, tritium, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a phenyl group, a methylphenyl group, an ethylphenyl group, an o-, m- and p-fluorophenyl group, a dichiorophenyl group, a cyanophenyl group, a dicyanophenyl group, a trifluoromethoxyphenyl group, a biphenyl group, a halobiphenyl group, a cyanobiphenyl group, a methylbiphenyl group, an ethylbiphenyl group, a methoxybiphenyl group, and an ethoxybiphenyl group.

For example, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R′ and R″ may be each independently a hydrogen atom, deuterium, tritium, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a phenyl group, or a biphenyl group.

In Formula 1, * is a binding site between one selected from the group consisting of Ar 1 , Z, and a fluorene group and the bridge unit. For example, * may be a binding site between Ar1 of Formula 1 and the bridge unit, between Z and the bridge unit, or between a fluorene group and the bridge unit.

The monovalent fluorene-based functional group represented by Formula 1 may have at least one fluorene group and one phenothiazine group and may be used for an organic layer of an organic light-emitting device.

The phenothiazine group has diverse bandgaps according to X′ (O, S, SO 2 , or CH 2 ) as an EML-forming material or hole transporting material. Accordingly, a compound including a phenothiazine group exhibits excellent electrical characteristics in an organic light-emitting device, and the organic light-emitting device including the compound has excellent luminance and long life-span. In addition, a carbazol group linked to an amine group in the compound is efficiently used to inject and transport holes and has excellent electrical stability. The fluorene group facilitates transfer of singlet excitons. Thus, if a compound including the fluorene group is used in an emission layer of an organic light-emitting device, the intensity of fluorescence increases to improve luminance. If the compound including the fluorene group is used as a host material of a fluorescent or phosphorescent dopant, energy transfer to a dopant increases to improve luminance. In addition, the fluorene group has diverse solubility in a solvent according to R 1 and R 2 , and thus may be efficiently used in a wet process.

For example, the dendron unit may include one selected from the group consisting of the functional groups represented by Formulae 2 to 5.

In Formulae 2 to 5, * is a binding site with the bridge unit.

In the dendrimer, the bridge unit is linked to the dendron unit via the binding site to increase generation.

The bridge unit is in a divalent or trivalent oxidation state and may be linked to an adjacent core unit or dendron unit via the binding site. If a plurality of bridge units are consecutively connected, the bridge unit may be linked to another bridge unit.

The bridge unit may be any divalent or trivalent linking group capable of linking adjacent units without inducing side reactions during the reaction with the dendron unit including the fluorene-based functional group. The bridge unit may include O and S to improve stability of a final product.

The bridge unit may include a divalent or trivalent functional group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aromatic hydrocarbon and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 hetero aromatic hydrocarbon, and for example, a C 3 -C 50 hetero aromatic hydrocarbon including a carbazolyl group in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted with an oxygen (O) atom or a nitrogen (N) atom.

For example, the bridge unit may include one selected from the group consisting of the functional groups represented by Formulae 6 to 9.

In Formulae 6 to 9, ** is a binding site with an adjacent unit. ** may be a binding site with the core unit, the dendron unit, or the bridge unit. If ** is a binding site with the bridge unit, the bridge units are consecutively linked to each other.

The dendrimer according to an embodiment includes the core unit at the center of the entire spherical structure to be connected to the bridge unit.

The core unit may be in the trivalent or tetravalent oxidation state and linked to the bridge unit via the binding site.

The core unit may include a trivalent or tetravalent functional group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aromatic hydrocarbon, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 hetero aromatic hydrocarbon,

For example, the core unit may include one selected from the group consisting of the functional groups represented by Formulae 10 to 12.

In Formulae 10 to 12, *** is a binding site with the bridge unit.

A number average molecular weight of the dendrimer including the core unit, the bridge unit, and the dendron unit may be from about 1,000 to 300,000.

The degree of branching of the dendrimer refers to a rate of a total number of the core unit and the dendrimer to a total number of the core unit, the bridge unit, and the dendron unit. For example, if the degree of branching is 0, the dendrimer is a linear molecule only having the bridge unit without the core unit and the dendron unit. If the degree of branching is 1, the bridge unit does not exist, and thus the dendron unit does not exist, either. The degree of branching may be calculated based on a ratio of integral values for the peaks of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the core unit, the bridge unit, and the dendron unit. The degree of branching of the dendrimer may vary according to reaction temperature, reaction time, solvent, and the like.

The dendrimer may further include a surface unit that is selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group.

For example, the dendrimer may further include a surface unit connected to a fluorene-based functional group represented by Formula 18 below:

In Formula 18, Z is selected from the group consisting of a single bond,

and Ar 1 , Ar 2 , X 1 , X 2 , Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , Y 5 , Y 6 , R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R′, and R″ are described above with reference to Formula 1. In this regard, one of * and **** is a binding site with the bridge unit and the other is a binding site with the surface unit.

The surface unit that is a unit independently connected to the dendron unit and positioned at the end (surface) of the dendron unit may be selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group and a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group.

For example, the surface unit may be a phenyl group, a halophenylene group, a cyanophenylene group, a biphenyl group, a dimethylfluorenyl group, a carbazolyl group, or a diphenylcarbazolyl group.

The dendrimer including the core unit, the bridge unit, and the dendron unit including a functional group represented by Formula 1 may be Dendrimers 1 to 5. However, the dendrimer is not limited to the following formulae.

The unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkyl group used herein may be a linear or branched group. Examples of the unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkyl group include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, pentyl, iso-amyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonanyl, and dodecyl. At least one hydrogen atom of the C 1 -C 50 alkyl group may be substituted with deuterium, tritium, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group, an amidino group, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a hydrazinyl group, a hydrazonyl group, a carboxyl group or a salt thereof, a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof, a phosphoric acid or a salt thereof, a C 1 -C 30 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 30 alkoxy group, a C 2 -C 30 alkenyl group, a C 2 -C 30 alkynyl group, a C 5 -C 20 aryl group, a C 3 -C 20 heteroaryl group, —N(Q 1 )(Q 2 ), or —Si(Q 3 )(Q 4 )(Q 5 ), Here, Q 1 through Q 5 may be each independently a hydrogen atom, deuterium, tritium, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group, an amidino group, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a hydrazinyl group, a hydrazonyl group, a carboxyl group or a salt thereof, a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof, a phosphoric acid or a salt thereof, a C 1 -C 30 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 30 alkoxy group, a C 2 -C 30 alkenyl group, a C 2 -C 30 alkynyl group, a C 5 -C 20 aryl group, or a C 3 -C 20 heteroaryl group.

The unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkenyl group used herein indicates a hydrocarbon chain having at least one carbon-carbon double bond at the center or at a terminal of the unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkyl group. Examples of the unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkenyl group include ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, and the like. At least one hydrogen atom in the unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkenyl group may be substituted with the substituents described in connection with the substituted C 1 -C 50 alkyl group.

The unsubstituted C 2 -C 50 alkynyl group used herein indicates a hydrocarbon chain having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond at the center or at a terminal of the C 2 -C 50 alkyl group defined above. Examples of the unsubstituted C 2 -C 20 alkynyl group include acetylene, propylene, phenylacetylene, naphthylacetylene, isopropylacetylene, t-butylacetylene, and diphenylacetylene. At least one hydrogen atom in the unsubstituted C 2 -C 20 alkynyl group may be substituted with the substituents described above in connection with the C 1 -C 50 alkyl group.

The unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 cycloalkyl group used herein refers to a C 3 -C 50 cyclic alkyl group wherein at least one hydrogen atom in the C 3 -C 50 cycloalkyl group may be substituted with substituents described above in connection with the C 1 -C 50 alkyl group.

The unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkoxy group used herein is a group having a structure of —OA wherein A is an unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 alkyl group as described above. Examples thereof include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropyloxy, butoxy, and pentoxy. At least one hydrogen atom of the C 1 -C 50 alkoxy group may be substituted with the same substituent groups as described above in connection with the C 1 -C 50 alkyl group.

The unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aryl group used herein refers to a carbocyclic aromatic system containing at least one ring. At least two rings may be fused to each other or linked to each other by a single bond. The term ‘aryl’ refers to an aromatic system, such as phenyl, naphthyl, or anthracenyl. At least one hydrogen atom in the C 5 -C 50 aryl group may be substituted with the substituents described above in connection with the C 1 -C 50 alkyl group. Examples of the substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 30 aryl group include, but are not limited to, a phenyl group, a C 1 -C 10 alkylphenyl group (for example, an ethylphenyl group), a halophenyl group (for example, an o-, m-, and p-fluorophenyl group, a dichlorophenyl group), a cyanophenyl group, dicyanophenyl group, a trifluoromethoxyphenyl group, a biphenyl group, a halobiphenyl group, a cyanobiphenyl group, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl biphenyl group, a C 1 -C 10 alkoxybiphenyl group, a o-, m-, and p-toryl group, an o-, m-, and p-cumenyl group, a mesityl group, a phenoxyphenyl group, a (α,α-dimethylbenzene)phenyl group, a (N,N′-dimethyl)aminophenyl group, a (N,N-diphenyl)aminophenyl group, a pentalenyl group, an indenyl group, a naphthyl group, a halonaphthyl group (for example, a fluoronaphthyl group), a C 1 -C 10 alkylnaphthyl group (for example, a methylnaphthyl group), a C 1 -C 10 alkoxynaphthyl group (for example, a methoxynaphthyl group), a cyanonaphthyl group, an anthracenyl group, an azulenyl group, a heptalenyl group, an acenaphthylenyl group, a phenalenyl group, a fluorenyl group, an anthraquinolyl group, a methylanthryl group, a phenanthryl group, a triphenylene group, a pyrenyl group, a chrycenyl group, an ethyl-chrysenyl group, a picenyl group, a perylenyl group, a chloroperylenyl group, a pentaphenyl group, a pentacenyl group, a tetraphenylenyl group, a hexaphenyl group, a hexacenyl group, a rubicenyl group, a coronelyl group, a trinaphthylenyl group, a heptaphenyl group, a heptacenyl group, a pyranthrenyl group, and an ovalenyl group.

The unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group used herein includes one, two or three hetero atoms selected from among N, O, P, and S. At least two rings may be fused to each other or linked to each other by a single bond. Examples of the unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group may include a pyrazolyl group, an imidazolyl group, an oxazolyl group, a thiazolyl group, a triazolyl group, a tetrazolyl group, an oxadiazolyl group, a pyridinyl group, a pyridazinyl group, a pyrimidinyl group, a triazinyl group, a carbazolyl group, an indolyl group, a quinolinyl group, and an isoquinolinyl group. At least one hydrogen atom in the C 3 -C 50 heteroaryl group may be substituted with the substituents described above in connection with the C 1 -C 50 alkyl group.

The unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 aliphatic hydrocarbon functional group may be a linear or branched C 1 -C 50 alkyl group. Examples of the unsubstituted C 1 -C 50 aliphatic hydrocarbon include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, s-butyl, i-butyl, t-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonanyl, and dodecyl. At least one hydrogen atom of the C 1 -C 50 aliphatic hydrocarbon functional group may be substituted with deuterium, tritium, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group, an amidino group, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a hydrazinyl group, a hydrazonyl group, a carboxyl group or a salt thereof, a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof, a phosphoric acid or a salt thereof, a C 1 -C 30 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 30 alkoxy group, a C 2 -C 30 alkenyl group, and a C 2 -C 30 alkynyl group.

The unsubstituted C 5 -C 50 aromatic hydrocarbon functional group used herein is the same as the C 5 -C 50 aryl group and may be substituted with the substituents described above in connection with the C 1 -C 50 alkyl group.

The unsubstituted C 3 -C 50 hetero aromatic hydrocarbon functional group used herein is the same as the C3-C 50 heteroaryl group and may be substituted with the substituents described above in connection with the C 1 -C 50 alkyl group.

Throughout the specification, a saturated ring or unsaturated ring formed by the linking of at least two adjacent substituents indicates a substituent including at least two rings formed by the fusing of at least one aromatic ring and/or at least one non-aromatic ring. Examples of this substituent include some of the substituents described above in connection with the aryl group or heteroaryl group.

An organic light-emitting device according to another embodiment includes a first electrode; a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode; and an organic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the organic layer includes a dendrimer including a dendron unit represented by Formula 1 described above.

Hereinafter, an organic light-emitting device including the dendrimer according to an embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the structure of an organic light-emitting device according to an embodiment.

First, an anode-forming material having a high work function is deposited or sputtered on a substrate to form an anode. The substrate may be a substrate conventionally used in organic light-emitting devices, and may include, for example, a glass substrate or a transparent plastic substrate with excellent mechanical strength, thermal stability, transparency, surface smoothness, ease of handling, and water resistance. The anode-forming material may be ITO, IZO, SnO 2 , or ZnO, which are transparent and highly conductive.

Then, a hole injection layer (HIL) is formed on the anode by using a vacuum deposition, a spin coating, a casting, or a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. However, when the HIL is formed using vacuum deposition, the HTL may be uniform, and occurrence of pin holes may be suppressed. When the HIL is formed by vacuum deposition, deposition conditions may vary according to a compound that is used to form the HIL, and according to the structure and thermal properties of the HIL to be formed. In general, however, conditions for vacuum deposition may include a deposition temperature ranging from about 50 to about 500° C., a pressure ranging from about 10 −8 to about 10 −3 torr, a deposition speed ranging from about 0.01 to about 100 Å/sec, and a layer thickness ranging from about 10 Å to about 5 μm. A material used to form the HIL may be any known hole injecting material, e.g., a phthalocyanine compound (e.g., copper phthalocyanine) disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,429 or a Starburst-type amine derivative (e.g., TCTA, m-MTDATA, or m-MTDAPB) disclosed in Advanced Material, 6, p. 677(1994).

A hole transport layer (HTL) may be formed on the HIL by using a vacuum deposition, a spin coating, a casting, or an LB method. However, when the HTL is formed using vacuum deposition, the HTL may be uniform, and occurrence of pin holes may be suppressed. When the HTL are formed using vacuum deposition, the deposition conditions may be similar to those for the formation of the HIL, although the deposition and coating conditions may vary according to a material that is used to form the HTL. A material used to form the HTL may be any known hole transporting material, e.g., a dendrimer compound including a dendron unit represented by Formula 1. Examples of the HTL-forming material include, but are not limited to, cabazol derivatives such as N-phenylcarbazol or polyvinylcarbazol, and amine derivatives having an aromatic condensed ring, such as N,N′-bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-[1,1-biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine (TPD), and N,N′-di(naphthalene-1-yl) -N,N′-diphenyl benzidine (a-NPD). The thickness of the HTL may be from about 50 to about 1,000 Å, for example, about 100 to about 600 Å. When the thickness of the HTL is within the above range, the HTL may have excellent hole transport characteristics without a substantial increase in driving voltage.

An emission layer (EML) may be formed on the HTL by using vacuum deposition, spin coating, casting, or LB deposition. However, when the EML is formed using vacuum deposition, the EML may be uniform, and occurrence of pin holes may be suppressed. When the EML is formed by using vacuum deposition, the deposition conditions may be similar to those for the formation of the HIL, although the deposition conditions may vary according to the material that is used to form the EML. As an EML-forming material, a dendrimer compound including a dendron unit represented by Formula 1 may be used alone or as a host, but the EML-forming material is not limited thereto.

If the dendrimer compound including the dendron unit represented by Formula 1 is used as an emission host, the EML may be used using the dendrimer compound with a phosphorescent or fluorescent dopant. In this regard, the fluorescent dopant may be IDE102 or IDE105 purchased by Idemitsu. Examples of green phosphorescent dopants may include, but are not limited to, Ir(ppy) 3 , where “ppy” denotes phenylpyridine, Ir(ppy) 2 (acac), Ir(mpyp) 3 , and C545T. Examples of blue phosphorescent dopants include, but are not limited to, F 2 lrpic, (F 2 ppy) 2 Ir(tmd), Ir(dfppz) 3 , ter-fluorene, 4,4′-bis(4-diphenylaminostyryl)biphenyl (DPAVBi), and 2,5,8,11-tetra-t-butyl pherylene (TBPe). Examples of red phosphorescent dopants may include, but are not limited to, platinum(II) octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP), Ir(piq) 3 , Btp 2 Ir(acac), DCJTB, and RD61 produced by UDC.

The doping concentration of a dopant is not particularly limited. The content of the dopant may be from about 0.01 to about 15 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the host. If the content of the dopant is within the above range, the EML may have excellent light-emitting characteristics and concentration quenching may be substantially prevented. When the EML includes a phosphorescent dopant, a hole blocking material may be further deposited or spin-coated on the EML to prevent diffusion of triplet excitons or holes into an electron transport layer (ETL). In this case, the hole blocking material may be any known material that is commonly used in the art without limitation. For example, the hole blocking material may include an oxadiazole derivative, a triazole derivative, a phenanthroline derivative, a hole blocking material disclosed in Japanese Patent

No. hei 11-329734(A1), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and for example, Balq represented by the following formula, and phenanthrolines (e.g.,: BCP produced by UDC).

The thickness of the EML may be from about 100 to about 1,000 Å, for example, about 200 to about 600 Å. When the thickness of the EML is within these ranges, the EML may have excellent light-emitting characteristics without a substantial increase in driving voltage.

Alternatively, when the EML includes a phosphorescent dopant, a HBL (not shown in FIG. 1 ) including the hole blocking material may be formed on the EML in order to prevent diffusion of triplet excitons or holes into the ETL for the same purpose of adding the hole blocking material to the EML.

An ETL may be formed on the EML by using vacuum deposition, spin coating, casting, or the like, for example, vacuum deposition. An ETL-forming material may be any material capable of stably transporting electrons injected from the electron injection electrode (cathode), for example, a quinoline derivative, particularly, tris(8-quinolinorate)aluminum (Alq3). In addition, an electron injection layer (EIL) may be formed on the ETL using any material that allows electrons to be easily injected from the cathode. The EIL may comprise LiF, NaCl, CsF, Li 2 O, BaO, or the like. The thickness of the ETL may be in a range of about 100 to about 1,000 Å, for example, about 100 to about 500 Å. When the thickness of the ETL is within the above range, the ETL may have excellent electron transport characteristics without a substantial increase in driving voltage.

Deposition conditions for forming the HBL, ETL, and EIL are similar to those used to form the HIL, although the deposition conditions may vary according to the material that is used to form the HBL, ETL, and EIL.

Finally, a cathode-forming metal is formed on the EIL by using vacuum deposition or sputtering to form a cathode. Examples of the cathode-forming metal include a metal, an alloy, and an electrically conductive compound and a mixture thereof. Examples of such materials include lithium (Li), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), aluminum-lithium (Al—Li), calcium (Ca), magnesium-indium(Mg—In), and magnesium-silver (Mg—Ag). In addition, a transparent cathode comprising ITO or IZO may be used to manufacture a top-emission light-emitting device.

According to embodiments, the organic light-emitting device may have the structure of FIG. 1 in which the anode, the HIL, the HTL, the EML, the ETL, the EIL, and the cathode are stacked on one another. However, the organic light-emitting device may have any of a variety of structures. For example, the organic light-emitting device may further include one or two intermediate layers, if needed. The HIL, EIL, and HBL are not essential but may improve emission efficiency.

Hereinafter, a dendrimer including a fluorene-based functional group represented by Formula 1 and having at least one fluorene group and one phenothiazine group as side chains will be described more fully with reference to the following synthesis examples and examples. However, the following examples are only for illustrative purpose and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments. The dendrimer has excellent emitting and hole transporting capabilities and may be used as a blue emitting material, green and red phosphorescent host materials, green and red fluorescent host materials, and a hole transporting material.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 1

Synthesis of Dendrimer 2

A mixture including 18.3 g (100.0 mmol) of 10H-phenoxazine, 21.6 g (200.0 mmol) of bromo ethane, 12.0 g (120.0 mmol) of Et3N, and 600 mL of THF was stirred at 60° C. for 12 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. 200 mL of water was added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture was subjected to extraction twice with 500 mL ethyl acetate. An organic layer was dried, filtered, concentrated, and then separated using column chromatography to obtain 18.2 g of Compound C-1 in light-yellow liquid form with a yield of 86%. The structure of Compound C-1 was identified using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). (calc.: 211.0997, found: 211.0986)

400 mL of acetic acid was added to a mixture including 21.1 g (100.0 mmol) of Compound C-1, 13.4 g (50.3 mmol) of iodine, and 2.2 g (10.0 mmol) of periodic acid, and the mixture was maintained at 80° C. for 4 hours. 500 mL of cold water was added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture was stirred and filtered. A solid phase obtained by the filtration was cleaned with cold water several times. Then, the solid phase was dissolved in 400 mL of ethyl ether, dried, filtered, concentrated, and then separated using column chromatography to obtain 25.2 g of Compound C-2 in a pale yellow solid form with a yield of 75.1%. The structure of Compound C-2 was identified using HR-MS. (calc.: 33.9964, found: 336.9952)

100 mL of toluene was added to a mixture including 10.1 g (30.0 mmol) of Compound C-2, 10.1 g (39.0 mmol) of Compound C-3, 4.3 g (45.0 mmol) of NaOtBu, 1.4 g (1.5 mmol) of Pd 2 (dba) 3 , and 0.30 g (1.5 mmol) of PtBu 3 and then the mixture was maintained at 90° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for 6 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, 30 mL of water was further added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture was subjected to extraction twice with 200 mL of methylene chloride. An organic layer was dried, filtered, concentrated, and then separated using column chromatography to obtain 8.38 g of Compound C-4 in light-yellow solid form with a yield of 62%. The structure of Compound C-4 was identified using HR-MS. (calc.: 467.1998, found: 467.1987)

100 mL of toluene was added to a mixture including 14.0 g (30.0 mmol) of Compound C-4, 15.6 g (39.0 mmol) of Compound C-5, 4.3 g (45.0 mmol) of NaOtBu, 1.4 g (1.5 mmol) of Pd 2 (dba) 3 , and 0.30 g (1.5 mmol) of PtBu 3 and then the mixture was maintained at 90° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for 6 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, 30 mL of water was further added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture was subjected to extraction twice with 200 mL of methylene chloride. An organic layer was dried, filtered, concentrated, and then separated using column chromatography to obtain 17.1 g of Compound C-6 in light-yellow solid form with a yield of 77%. The structure of Compound C-6 was identified using HR-MS. (calc.: 737.2042, found: 737.2032)

100 mL of toluene was added to a mixture including 22.1 g (30.0 mmol) of Compound C-6, 9.1 g (36.0 mmol) of bis(pinacolato)diboron, 1.2 g (0.05 mole%) of Pd(dppf)Cl 2 , and 3.5 g (36.0 mmol) of KOtBu, and then the mixture was maintained at 90° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for 6 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, 50 mL of water was further added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture was subjected to extraction twice with 300 mL of methylene chloride. An organic layer was dried, filtered, concentrated, and then separated using column chromatography to obtain 13.2 g of Compound C-7 in pale-yellow solid form with a yield of 56%. The structure of Compound C-7 was identified using FIR-MS. (calc.: 785.3789, found: 785.3774)

100 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was added to a mixture including 1.56 g (30 mmol) of Compound C-8, 12.7 g (14.0 mmol) of Compound C-7, 0.69 g (5 mol%) of Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 , 4.8 g (120 mmol) of NaOH, and 30 mL of water, and then the mixture was maintained at 70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for 36 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, 50 mL of water was further added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture was subjected to extraction twice with 300 mL of methylene chloride. An organic layer was dried, filtered, concentrated, and then recrystallized using column chromatography to obtain 2.97 g of Dendrimer 2 in pale-yellow solid form with a yield of 35%. The structure of Dendrimer 2 was identified using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. 1H-NMR (CDCl 3 , 400 MHz) δ (ppm); 1.24 (t, 18H), 1.87 (s, 36H), 3.32 (q, 12H), 6.87-7.96 (m, 162H).

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 2

Synthesis of Dendrimer 3

Dendrimer 3 in pale-yellow solid form was synthesized using 3.9 g (5.0 mmol) of Compound C-7 and 0.54 g (1.0 mmol) of Compound C-9 in the same manner as in the synthesis of Dendrimer 2. The structure of Dendrimer 3 was identified using NMR spectroscopy. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ (ppm); 1.28 (t, 9H), 1.77 (s, 18H), 3.23 (q, 6H), 6.87-7.96 (m, 90H).

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 3

Synthesis of Dendrimer 4

A solution including 11.2 mL (32.0 g, 220 mmol) of brome and 80 mL of CH 2 Cl 2 was added to a solution including 16.7 g (100.0 mmol) of carbasole and 300 mL of CH 2 Cl 2 at −30° C. for 30 minutes, and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 5 hours. 200 mL of 10% NaHCO 3 aqueous solution was added to the reaction mixture and the reaction mixture was subjected to extraction twice with 300 mL of methylene chloride. An organic layer was dried, filtered, concentrated, and then separated using column chromatography to obtain 21.2 g of Compound C-9 in white solid form with a yield of 65%. The structure of Compound C-9 was identified using HR-MS. (calc.: 322.8945, found: 322.8945)

A mixture including 16.5 g (50.0 mmol) of Compound C-9, 44.0 g (200.0 mmol) of 4-iodophenol, 0.48 g (0.05 mole %) of Cul, 0.66 g (0.05 mole %) of 18-C-6 (product name), and 400 mL of DMF was stirred at 130° C. for 12 hours.

The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, 400 mL of methylene chloride was further added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture was cleaned three times with 500 mL of water. An organic layer was dried, filtered, concentrated, and then separated using column chromatography to obtain 12.1 g of Compound C-10 in pale-yellow solid form with a yield of 58%. The structure of Compound C-10 was identified using HR-MS. (calc.: 414.9270, found: 414.9270)

32.6 g of Compound C-12 in light-yellow solid form was synthesized with a yield of 78% using 20.9 g (100.0 mmol) of Compound C-11 and 33.7 g (100.0 mmol) of Compound C-2 in the same manner as in the synthesis of Compound C-4. The structure of Compound C-12 was identified using HR-MS. (calc.: 418.2045, found: 418.2032)

13.5 g of Compound C-13 in light-yellow solid form was synthesized with a yield of 62% using 8.4 g (20.0 mmol) of Compound C-10 and 18.4 g (44.0 mmol) of Compound C-12 in the same manner as in the synthesis of Compound C-6. The structure of Compound C-13 was identified using HR-MS. (calc.: 1091.4774, found: 1091.4762)

80 mL of THF was added to a mixture including 10.9 g (10.0 mmol) of Compound C-13, 770 mg (2.0 mmol) of pentaerythritol tetrabromide, and 480 mg (20.0 mmol) of 95% NaH, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour and maintained at 50° C. for 6 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, 30 mL of water was further added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture was subjected to extraction twice with 100 mL of methylene chloride. An organic layer was dried, filtered, concentrated, separated using column chromatography, and recrystallized to obtain 3.20 g of Dendrimer 4 in pale-yellow solid form with a yield of 46%. The structure of Dendrimer 4 was identified using NMR spectroscopy. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ (ppm); 1.15 (t, 24H), 1.82 (s, 48H), 3.22 (q, 16H), 3.45 (s, 8H), 6.47-7.88 (m, 152H).

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 4

Dendrimer 5 in pale-yellow solid form was synthesized with a yield of 55% using 5.5 g (5.0 mmol) of Compound C-13 and 0.35 g (1.0 mmol) of Compound C-14 in the same manner as in the synthesis of Dendrimer 4. The structure of Dendrimer 5 was identified using NMR spectroscopy. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ (ppm); 1.18 (t, 18H), 1.82 (s, 36H), 3.33 (q, 12H), 5.53 (s, 6H), 6.87-7.96 (m, 117H).