Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Photoelectric Properties of Re(CO)₃ClL (L = 2-(1-Ethylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine)

A novel Re(I) complex, Re(CO)3ClL (L = 2-(1-ethylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine), has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data for C17H13ClN3O3Re: space group, orthorhombic, Pbca; a = 12.713(6) Å; b = 15.103(7) Å; c = 18.253(8) Å; Z = 8. Stable vacuum vapor deposition of the Re complex has been verified by UV−vis and infrared spectroscopy. A two-layer electroluminescent device with configuration of ITO/TPD/Re(CO)3ClL/Mg0.9Ag0.1/Ag has been fabricated, which gave a turn-on voltage of as low as 3 V and a maximum luminance of 113 cd/m2 at a bias voltage of 10.5 V, and confirmed that the Re complex can function as a bright orange-red emitter and an electron transport material in an electroluminescent device.