Synthesis,structure, and luminescence of rhenium(I) complexes with substituted bipyridines

Two new rhenium(I) complexes chelated by a substituted 2,2′-bipyridine with general formula Re(CO)₃LCl, where L?=?6?-(2″-methoxyphenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (L₁ ) and 6?-(4″-diphenylaminophenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (L₂ ), are synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR, and elemental analysis. Structure of 1 was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, revealing that rhenium is six-coordinate octahedral. The electrochemical, photophysical, and thermal properties of the two rhenium(I) complexes were investigated. Electroluminescent devices were fabricated by doping 1 in polymer blend host of poly(vinylcarbazole) and 2-tert-butylphenyl-5-biphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole using simple solution spin-coating technique. The device exhibits a maximum current efficiency of 2.97?cd?A^?1 and peak brightness in excess of 2390?cd?m^?2.