Preparation and luminescence properties of isoquinoline-nucleated polycyclic aromatics

Two isoquinoline-nucleated polycyclic aromatic compounds, 4,5-diphenyl-7H-dibenzo[de,g]quinolin-7-one (A) and 3,4-diphenyl-6H-phenanthro[3,4,5-defg]quinolin-6-one (B), were synthesized in high yields through three-component reaction of phenanthrene diketone or pyrene diketone, ammonium acetate and 1,2-diphenylethyne in one-pot. Their structures, thermal stabilities, photophysical properties and energy levels are investigated systematically. Both compounds emit very weak fluorescence in acetone, but their luminescence intensity increased significantly when the water content reaches 50% for A and 40% for B, exhibiting aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics, and showing that the AIE effect of the compound A is stronger than that of the compound B. The vacuum-processed doped devices based on the compound B showed green emission with a maximum brightness of 2162 cd/m2, a maximum current efficiency of 2.97 cd/A and a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 2.23%.