Group 4 ansa-metallocenes derived from o-carborane and their luminescent properties

Luminescent group 4 complexes derived from o-carborane, M(eta(5):eta(1)-CpCMe2CB10H10C)(2) (M = Ti; 1, Zr; 2, Hf; 3) and Me2Si(eta(5)-Ind)[eta(5):eta(1)-Cp-3-(CMe2CB10H10C)]ZrCl (4) were explored. While the Ti complex 1 possessing C-2 molecular symmetry shows non-centrosymmetry in the unit cell as identically observed in 2 and 3, the double-ansa Zr complex 4 crystallizes in centrosymmetric P2(1)/n space group despite its C-1 molecular symmetry. The non-centrosymmetric crystals of 2 and 3 exhibit blue mechanoluminescence similar to their solution and solid state photoluminescence. In contrast, 1 is lacking mechanoluminescence in crystal and shows much weaker emission than other congeners in solution. The electroluminescence devices based on 2 or 3 doped poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) as an emitting layer display green electroluminescence, which turned out to be originated from the exciplexes formed between the complex and PVK host. Although the double ansa-Zr complex 4 does not show mechanoluminescence owing to the centrosymmetric nature, it exhibits good electron-transporting properties when incorporated into the electron-transporting layer of Alq3-based OLEDs. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.