One-Shot Construction of BN-Embedded Heptadecacene Framework Exhibiting Ultra-narrowband Green Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence

BN-embedded nonacene, tridecacene, and heptadecacene frameworks were constructed using one-shot quadruple, sextuple, and octuple borylation reactions, respectively. The key to success is the judicious choice of borylating reagents and long-chain alkyl-substituted carbazolyl groups as boron-trapping groups, which suppressed the decrease in HOMO energy and insolubilization associated with borylation. Based on the product yields, each electrophilic C–H borylation proceeded in >99% yield, which is the best efficiency reported so far for C–H borylation reactions. Owing to the multiple resonance effects of boron and nitrogen, the prepared acenes exhibited ultra-narrowband green thermally activated delayed fluorescence with full-width at half-maximum of 12–16 nm; moreover, their kRISC values were in the order of 105 s–1. We fabricated an organic light-emitting diode by employing the nonacene as an emitter, which exhibited high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 28.7%. The device also showed a minimum efficiency roll-off with an EQE of 25.8% at 1000 cd m–2.