JP2017075121A - π-CONJUGATED COMPOUND, ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENT ELEMENT MATERIAL, LUMINESCENT MATERIAL, LUMINESCENT THIN FILM, ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENT ELEMENT, DISPLAY DEVICE AND LUMINAIRE - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a π-conjugated compound capable of improving luminous efficiency of an organic electroluminescent element.SOLUTION: A π-conjugated compound has a structure shown by a general formula (1): general formula (1) (Ais an electron-withdrawing group having an aromatic heterocyclic 5-membered ring skeleton; Dand Dare each independently an aryl group substituted by an electron-donating group, an electron-donating heterocyclic group, or an electron-donating group selected from a substituted/unsubstituted amino group or alkyl group; and Z-Zare each independently H, an electron-donating group or an electron-withdrawing group).SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

  The present invention relates to a π-conjugated compound, an organic electroluminescence element material, a luminescent material, a luminescent thin film, an organic electroluminescence element, a display device, and an illumination device.

  An organic EL element (also referred to as “organic electroluminescence element”) using an organic material electroluminescence (hereinafter abbreviated as “EL”) has already been put into practical use as a new light emitting system that enables planar light emission. Technology. Organic EL elements are not only applied to electronic displays but also recently applied to lighting equipment, and their development is expected.

  There are two types of emission methods for organic EL elements: phosphorescence emission, which emits light when returning from the triplet excited state to the ground state, and fluorescence emission, which emits light when returning from the singlet excited state to the ground state. There is a street.

  When an electric field is applied to the organic EL element, holes and electrons are injected from the anode and the cathode, respectively, and recombine in the light emitting layer to generate excitons. At this time, since singlet excitons and triplet excitons are generated at a ratio of 25%: 75%, phosphorescence using triplet excitons is theoretically higher in internal quantum than fluorescence. It is known that efficiency can be obtained. However, in order to actually obtain a high quantum efficiency in the phosphorescence emission method, it is necessary to use a complex using a rare metal such as iridium or platinum as a central metal. There is concern that price will be a major industrial issue.

  On the other hand, various developments have been made to improve the light emission efficiency in the fluorescent light emitting type, and a new movement has recently been made. For example, in Patent Document 1, a phenomenon in which singlet excitons are generated by collision of two triplet excitons (triplet-triplet annihilation: hereinafter, abbreviated as “TTA” as appropriate. Triplet-Triplet Fusion: “TTF”) In particular, a technology for increasing the efficiency of a fluorescent element by efficiently causing TTA is disclosed. Although this technology improves the luminous efficiency of fluorescent materials by up to 2-3 times that of conventional fluorescent materials, the theoretical singlet exciton generation efficiency in TTA is only about 40%, so phosphorescence is still emitted. Compared to the above, there is a problem of high luminous efficiency.

  Furthermore, in recent years, a phenomenon (thermally activated delayed fluorescence (""), where a reverse intersystem crossing from a triplet exciton to a singlet exciton (hereinafter referred to as "RISC" as appropriate) occurs. It is also referred to as “thermally excited delayed fluorescence”: Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (hereinafter abbreviated as “TADF” as appropriate), and the possibility of use in organic EL devices has been reported (for example, (Refer to Patent Document 2, Non-Patent Document 1, and Non-Patent Document 2.) By using delayed fluorescence by this TADF mechanism, the internal quantum efficiency of 100% is theoretically equivalent to phosphorescence emission even in fluorescence emission by electric field excitation. Is possible.

In order to develop the TADF phenomenon, it is necessary that reverse intersystem crossing from triplet excitons generated by electric field excitation to singlet excitons at room temperature or the light emitting layer temperature in the light emitting element occurs. Furthermore, a singlet exciton generated by crossing between inverses emits fluorescence similarly to a 25% singlet exciton generated by direct excitation, so that an internal quantum efficiency of 100% is theoretically possible. In order for this reverse intersystem crossing to occur, the absolute value (ΔE _ST ) of the difference between the lowest excitation singlet energy level (S1) and the lowest triplet excitation energy level (T1) is required to be small.

  Further, it is known that when a light emitting layer composed of a host material and a light emitting material contains a TADF material as a third component (assist dopant material) in the light emitting layer, it is effective in developing high light emission efficiency ( Non-Patent Document 3). By generating 25% singlet excitons and 75% triplet excitons on the assist dopant material by electric field excitation, the triplet excitons generate singlet excitons with reverse intersystem crossing (RISC). can do. The energy of the singlet exciton is transferred to the light emitting material by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (hereinafter abbreviated as “FRET” as appropriate), and light can be emitted by the energy transferred from the light emitting material. . Therefore, theoretically, it becomes possible to cause the luminescent material to emit light using 100% exciton energy, and high luminous efficiency is exhibited.

For example, in order to express the TADF phenomenon, it is effective to reduce the Delta] E _ST organic compound; in order to reduce the Delta] E _ST is the highest occupied molecular orbital of the molecule (HOMO) the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital ( It is effective to localize (clear separation) without mixing LUMO).

1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing energy diagrams of a compound that expresses the TADF phenomenon (TADF compound) and a general fluorescent light-emitting material. For example, in 2CzPN having the structure shown in FIG. 1, HOMO is localized at the 1st and 2nd carbazolyl groups on the benzene ring, and LUMO is localized at the 4th and 5th cyano groups. Therefore, it is possible to separate the HOMO and LUMO of 2CzPN, ΔE _ST express TADF phenomenon extremely small. On the other hand, in 2CzXy (FIG. 2) in which the cyano group at the 4-position and 5-position of 2CzPN is replaced with a methyl group, the structure is similar, but HOMO and LUMO seen in 2CzPN cannot be clearly separated, so ΔE _ST cannot be reduced, and the TADF phenomenon cannot be expressed.

  In the prior art, in order to clearly separate HOMO and LUMO, a technique using a strong electron-donating group or electron-withdrawing group is known. However, the use of a strong electron donating group or electron withdrawing group forms a strong intramolecular charge transfer (CT) excited state, causing the absorption spectrum and emission spectrum to become longer, and the emission wavelength. There is a problem that it is difficult to control. On the other hand, if the electron donating property or the electron withdrawing property is weakened in order to control the emission wavelength, it will hinder the expression of the TADF phenomenon. Therefore, a new method for expressing the TADF phenomenon while controlling the emission wavelength is desired.

International Publication No. 2010/134350 JP2013-116975A

H. Uoyama, et al. , Nature, 2012, 492, 234-238. Q. Zhang et al. , Nature, Photonics, 2014, 8, 326-332. H. Nakatanani, et al. , Nature Communication, 2014, 5, 4016-4022.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and situations, and a problem to be solved is to provide a new π-conjugated compound that can improve the light emission efficiency of, for example, an organic electroluminescence device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an organic electroluminescence element material, a light emitting material, a light-emitting thin film, an organic electroluminescence element, and a display device and an illumination device including the organic electroluminescence element using the π-conjugated compound. .

As a result of studying the cause of the above-mentioned problem in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor substituted the electron-withdrawing group A ¹ having an aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton on the benzene ring, and further, the electron-withdrawing group A. ^The present inventors have conceived a new π-conjugated compound having an electron donating group D next to at least ^one of the para position and found that the use of this compound in an organic electroluminescence device can improve luminous efficiency. It came.

（一般式（１）中、
Ａ^１は、置換されていてもよい芳香族複素５員環骨格を有する電子吸引性基を表し、
Ｄ^１及びＤ^２は、各々独立に、電子供与性基を表し、
Ｚ^１〜Ｚ^３は、各々独立に、水素原子、重水素原子、電子供与性基又は電子吸引性基を表し、
前記Ｄ^１及びＤ^２及びＺ^１〜Ｚ^３で表される前記電子供与性基は、電子供与性基で置換されたアリール基、置換されていてもよい電子供与性の複素環基、置換されていてもよいアミノ基、及びアルキル基からなる群より選ばれる基であり、
前記Ｚ^１〜Ｚ^３で表される前記電子吸引性基は、フッ素原子、フッ素原子で置換されたアルキル基、置換されていてもよいカルボニル基、置換されていてもよいスルホニル基、置換されていてもよいホスフィンオキサイド基、置換されていてもよいボリル基、電子吸引性基で置換されていてもよいアリール基、及び置換されていてもよい電子吸引性の複素環基からなる群より選ばれる基である。）
［２］ 前記一般式（１）において、Ｚ^１は前記電子供与性基を表す、［１］に記載のπ共役系化合物。
［３］ 前記一般式（１）において、Ｚ^１は前記電子供与性基を表し、Ｚ^２とＺ^３は水素原子を表す、［１］または［２］に記載のπ共役系化合物。
［４］ 前記芳香族複素５員環骨格は、窒素原子を含む、［１］〜［３］のいずれか一項に記載のπ共役系化合物。
［５］ 最低励起一重項準位と最低励起三重項準位とのエネルギー差の絶対値ΔＥ_ＳＴが０．５０ｅＶ以下である、［１］〜［４］のいずれか一項に記載のπ共役系化合物。 That is, the said subject which concerns on this invention is solved by the following means.
[1] A π-conjugated compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (1).

(In general formula (1),
A ¹ represents an electron-withdrawing group having an optionally substituted aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton,
D ¹ and D ² each independently represents an electron donating group,
Z ^{1 to} Z ³ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a deuterium atom, an electron donating group or an electron withdrawing group,
The electron donating group represented by D ¹ and D ² and Z ^{1 to} Z ³ includes an aryl group substituted with an electron donating group, an optionally substituted electron donating heterocyclic group, and a substituted group. An amino group that may be present, and a group selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups,
The electron-withdrawing group represented by Z ^{1 to} Z ³ is a fluorine atom, an alkyl group substituted with a fluorine atom, an optionally substituted carbonyl group, an optionally substituted sulfonyl group, or a substituted atom. Selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted phosphine oxide group, an optionally substituted boryl group, an aryl group optionally substituted with an electron-withdrawing group, and an optionally substituted electron-withdrawing heterocyclic group. It is a group. )
[2] The π-conjugated compound according to [1], wherein in the general formula (1), Z ¹ represents the electron donating group.
[3] The π-conjugated compound according to [1] or [2], wherein, in the general formula (1), Z ¹ represents the electron donating group, and Z ² and Z ³ represent a hydrogen atom.
[4] The π-conjugated compound according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the aromatic heterocyclic 5-membered ring skeleton includes a nitrogen atom.
[5] an absolute value of the lowest Delta] E _ST of the energy difference between the excited singlet state and the lowest excited triplet level is below 0.50eV, [1] ~ π-conjugated according to any one of [4] Compounds.

[6] An organic electroluminescent element material comprising the π-conjugated compound according to any one of [1] to [5].
[7] A light-emitting material containing the π-conjugated compound according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the π-conjugated compound emits fluorescence.
[8] The luminescent material according to [7], wherein the π-conjugated compound emits delayed fluorescence.
[9] A light-emitting thin film containing the π-conjugated compound according to any one of [1] to [5].
[10] The luminescent thin film according to [9], wherein the π-conjugated compound emits delayed fluorescence.
[11] including an anode, a cathode, and a light emitting layer provided between the anode and the cathode,
An organic electroluminescence device, wherein at least one layer of the light emitting layer contains the π-conjugated compound according to any one of [1] to [5].
[12] The organic electroluminescence device according to [11], wherein the π-conjugated compound generates excitons.
[13] The organic electroluminescence device according to [11] or [12], wherein the π-conjugated compound emits fluorescence.
[14] The organic electroluminescence device according to [13], wherein the π-conjugated compound emits delayed fluorescence.
[15] The organic electroluminescence device according to any one of [11] to [14], wherein the light emitting layer includes the π-conjugated compound and a host compound.
[16] The organic electroluminescence according to any one of [11] to [15], wherein the light-emitting layer includes the π-conjugated compound and at least one of a fluorescent compound and a phosphorescent compound. element.
[17] The light emitting layer according to any one of [11] to [15], wherein the light emitting layer includes the π-conjugated compound, at least one of a fluorescent light emitting compound and a phosphorescent light emitting compound, and a host compound. Organic electroluminescence element.

（一般式（Ｉ）中、
Ｘ_１０１は、ＮＲ_１０１、酸素原子、硫黄原子、スルフィニル基、スルホニル基、ＣＲ_１０２Ｒ_１０３又はＳｉＲ_１０４Ｒ_１０５を表し、
ｙ_１〜ｙ_８は、各々独立に、ＣＲ_１０６又は窒素原子を表し、
Ｒ_１０１〜Ｒ_１０６は、各々独立に、水素原子又は置換基を表し、互いに結合して環を形成してもよく、
Ａｒ_１０１及びＡｒ_１０２は、各々独立に、置換されていてもよいアリール基、又は置換されていてもよいヘテロアリール基を表し、
ｎ１０１及びｎ１０２は、各々０〜４の整数を表す。
ただし、Ｒ_１０１が水素原子の場合は、ｎ１０１は１〜４の整数を表す。）
［１９］ 前記一般式（Ｉ）で表される構造を有するホスト化合物が、下記一般式（II）で表される構造を有する、［１８］に記載の有機エレクトロルミネッセンス素子。

（一般式（II）中、
Ｘ_１０１は、ＮＲ_１０１、酸素原子、硫黄原子、スルフィニル基、スルホニル基、ＣＲ_１０２Ｒ_１０３又はＳｉＲ_１０４Ｒ_１０５を表し、
Ｒ_１０１〜Ｒ_１０５は、各々水素原子又は置換基を表し、互いに結合して環を形成してもよく、
Ａｒ_１０１及びＡｒ_１０２は、各々独立に、置換されていてもよいアリール基、又は置換されていてもよいヘテロアリール基を表し、
ｎ１０２は０〜４の整数を表す。）
［２０］ ［１１］〜［１９］のいずれか一項に記載の有機エレクトロルミネッセンス素子を含む、表示装置。
［２１］ ［１１］〜［１９］のいずれか一項に記載の有機エレクトロルミネッセンス素子を含む、照明装置。 [18] The organic electroluminescence device according to [15] or [17], wherein the host compound has a structure represented by the following general formula (I).

(In the general formula (I),
X ₁₀₁ represents NR ₁₀₁ , an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a sulfinyl group, a sulfonyl group, CR ₁₀₂ R ₁₀₃ or SiR ₁₀₄ R ₁₀₅ ,
y _{1 to} y ₈ each independently represent CR ₁₀₆ or a nitrogen atom;
R _{101 to} R ₁₀₆ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring;
Ar ₁₀₁ and Ar ₁₀₂ each independently represent an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heteroaryl group;
n101 and n102 each represent an integer of 0 to 4.
_However, if _{R 101} is a hydrogen atom, n101 represents an integer of 1-4. )
[19] The organic electroluminescence device according to [18], wherein the host compound having a structure represented by the general formula (I) has a structure represented by the following general formula (II).

(In general formula (II),
X ₁₀₁ represents NR ₁₀₁ , an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a sulfinyl group, a sulfonyl group, CR ₁₀₂ R ₁₀₃ or SiR ₁₀₄ R ₁₀₅ ,
R _{101 to} R ₁₀₅ each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring;
Ar ₁₀₁ and Ar ₁₀₂ each independently represent an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heteroaryl group;
n102 represents an integer of 0 to 4. )
[20] A display device comprising the organic electroluminescence element according to any one of [11] to [19].
[21] An illumination device including the organic electroluminescence element according to any one of [11] to [19].

  By the above means of the present invention, for example, a new π-conjugated compound that can improve the light emission efficiency of the organic electroluminescence device can be provided. Furthermore, the above-mentioned means of the present invention can provide a new organic electroluminescence device that realizes an improvement in luminous efficiency. In addition, an organic electroluminescent element material, a light-emitting thin film, a luminescent material, and a display device and a lighting device including the organic electroluminescent element using the π-conjugated compound can be provided.

It is the schematic diagram which showed the energy diagram of the TADF compound. It is the schematic diagram which showed the energy diagram of the general fluorescent material. It is the schematic diagram which showed the energy diagram in case a (pi) conjugated compound functions as an assist dopant material. It is the schematic diagram which showed the energy diagram in case a (pi) conjugated compound functions as a host material. It is the schematic diagram which showed an example of the display apparatus comprised from an organic EL element. It is a schematic diagram of a display device using an active matrix method. It is the schematic which showed the circuit of the pixel. It is a schematic diagram of the display apparatus by a passive matrix system. It is the schematic of an illuminating device. It is a schematic diagram of an illuminating device.

  Hereinafter, the present invention, its components, and modes and modes for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail. In addition, in this application, "-" is used in the meaning which includes the numerical value described before and behind that as a lower limit and an upper limit.

In a π-conjugated compound containing a benzene ring, an electron-withdrawing group substituted for the benzene ring, and at least two electron-donating groups, the electron-withdrawing group is an electron having an aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton. The π-conjugated compound having an attractive group A ¹ and further having an electron-donating group adjacent to at least ^one of the para-position of the electron-withdrawing group A ¹ can increase the luminous efficiency of the organic electroluminescence device, for example. I found. The reason is not necessarily clear, but is presumed as follows.

  Aromatic hetero 5-membered ring compounds (eg, triazole, oxazole, etc.) and condensed heterocyclic compounds having an aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton (eg, benzotriazole, benzoxazole, etc.) are expected compounds as electron-withdrawing groups of TADF compounds It is. The π-conjugated compound of the present invention has an electron-withdrawing group having an aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton as an electron-withdrawing group. Such electron withdrawing groups can be acceptor sites. Furthermore, by satisfying the specific configuration of having an electron donating group D at the para position furthest from the electron withdrawing group and next to at least one thereof (that is, one combination of the ortho positions of the benzene ring) It is thought that electron donating properties can be obtained. This is because, in addition to the presence of two or more electron donating groups D, they are substituted at the ortho position of the benzene ring, that is, they are “adjacent in space”. When the electron donating group is adjacent in space, the positive state of the electron donating portion in the excited state can be stabilized by the plurality of electron donating groups in spatial resonance and stabilized. It is believed that stabilization and suppression of non-radiative deactivation can be suppressed, and luminous efficiency can be increased. Furthermore, since the electron-donating group D is not linked by a through bond but interacts through a through space, it is considered that the absorption spectrum and the emission spectrum can be prevented from becoming longer wavelengths.

<Π-conjugated compound>
The π-conjugated compound of the present invention is a compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (1).

In general formula (1),
A ¹ represents an electron-withdrawing group having an optionally substituted aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton,
D ¹ and D ² each independently represent an electron donating group,
Z ^{1 to} Z ³ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a deuterium atom, an electron donating group or an electron withdrawing group.

(For ^{A 1)}
A ¹ is an electron-withdrawing group having an optionally substituted aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton. An electron-withdrawing group having an optionally substituted aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton includes an electron-withdrawing aromatic hetero 5-membered monocyclic compound (for example, triazole, oxazole, etc.), and an electron-withdrawing aromatic group. It is a group derived from a condensed ring compound having a hetero 5-membered ring skeleton (for example, benzotriazole, benzoxazole, etc.). Such a group is not only excellent as an electron-attracting group, but also easily available and organic synthesis is also easy. Therefore, it is suitable as an electron withdrawing group of the TADF compound.

  The bond of the “group derived from a condensed ring compound having an electron-withdrawing aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton” may be derived from a constituent atom of the aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton, or otherwise. From the aromatic ring. The bond of “the group derived from a condensed ring compound having an electron-withdrawing aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton” is a constituent atom of the aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton because good electron withdrawing property is easily obtained. It is preferable that it comes out of.

  Examples of the hetero atom constituting the electron-withdrawing aromatic hetero five-membered ring skeleton include a nitrogen atom, a boron atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a silicon atom, and a phosphorus atom. Among these, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom is preferable, and a nitrogen atom is more preferable. An electron-withdrawing group containing a nitrogen atom in an aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton is preferable because it has a higher electron-withdrawing property and higher stability.

The “electron-withdrawing group having an aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton” represented by A ¹ is a group derived from a hetero ring having an electron-withdrawing aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton having 1 to 30 carbon atoms. It is preferable that Examples of such heterocyclic groups include
Pyrrole ring, imidazole ring, pyrazole ring, 1,2,3-triazole ring, 1,2,4-triazole ring, tetrazole ring, furan ring, oxazole ring, isoxazole ring, oxadiazole ring, thiophene ring, thiophene Oxide ring, thiazole ring, isothiazole ring, thiadiazole ring, silole ring, borol ring, phosphole ring, phosphole oxide ring,
Indole ring, benzimidazole ring, indazole ring, benzotriazole ring, benzofuran ring, benzoxazole ring, benzooxadiazole ring, benzothiophene ring, benzothiophene dioxide ring, benzothiazole ring, benzothiadiazole ring, dibenzofuran ring, dibenzothiophene Ring, dibenzothiophene dioxide ring, dibenzosilole ring, dibenzoborol ring, dibenzophosphole ring, dibenzophosphole oxide ring,
Azacarbazole ring, azadibenzofuran ring, azadibenzothiophene ring, azadibenzothiophene dioxide ring, azadibenzosilole ring, azadibenzoborol ring, azadibenzophosphole ring, azadibenzophosphole oxide ring,
Etc. are included.

  The heterocycle having an electron-withdrawing aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton preferably has an electron-withdrawing nitrogen-containing aromatic 5-membered ring skeleton because it exhibits good electron withdrawing properties. An attractive nitrogen-containing aromatic 5-membered monocyclic compound is more preferable, and a triazole ring and a thiazole ring are more preferable.

  The aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton in the “group having an electron-withdrawing aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton” may further have a substituent. Examples of such substituents include “fluorine atom”, “alkyl group substituted with fluorine atom”, “optionally substituted carbonyl group”, “optionally substituted sulfonyl group”, “substituted” An optionally substituted phosphine oxide group ”, an“ optionally substituted boryl group ”, an“ optionally substituted aryl group (preferably an aryl group optionally substituted with an electron-withdrawing group) ”, and “An electron-withdrawing heterocyclic group which may be substituted” is included.

The alkyl group in “an alkyl group substituted with a fluorine atom” has the same meaning as the aforementioned alkyl group. Examples of the alkyl group substituted with fluorine include —CF ₃ , —CF ₂ H, —CH ₂ F, —CF ₂ CF _{3 and the} like.

  Examples of substituents in the “optionally substituted carbonyl group”, “optionally substituted sulfonyl group”, “optionally substituted phosphine oxide group” and “optionally substituted boryl group” Includes a deuterium atom, a fluorine atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group that may be substituted with a fluorine atom, an aryl group that may be substituted, and an electron-withdrawing heterocyclic group that may be substituted.

  The aryl group in the “optionally substituted aryl group” has the same meaning as the above-described aryl group.

Examples of the substituent that the aryl group may have include a deuterium atom, a fluorine atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group that may be substituted with fluorine, an optionally substituted carbonyl group, and an optionally substituted group. A sulfonyl group, an optionally substituted phosphine oxide group, an optionally substituted boryl group, an optionally substituted electron withdrawing heterocyclic group, and an optionally substituted amino group are included.
Among these, the substituent that the aryl group may have is preferably an electron-withdrawing group, and includes a fluorine atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group that may be substituted with fluorine, an optionally substituted carbonyl group, and a substituted group. An optionally substituted sulfonyl group, an optionally substituted phosphine oxide group, an optionally substituted boryl group, and an optionally substituted electron-withdrawing heterocyclic group are preferred; a fluorine atom, a cyano group, An alkyl group which may be substituted with fluorine and an electron-withdrawing heterocyclic group which may be substituted are more preferable.

“The electron-withdrawing heterocyclic group which may be substituted” includes, in addition to the “group having an aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton” represented by A ¹ described above, a pyridine ring, a pyridazine ring, a pyrimidine ring, From electron withdrawing aromatic heterocycles other than A ¹ such as pyrazine ring, triazine ring, quinoline ring, isoquinoline ring, quinazoline ring, cinnoline ring, quinoxaline ring, phthalazine ring, pteridine ring, phenanthridine ring, and phenanthroline ring Derived groups are included. These heterocycles are not condensed with the aromatic ring of the aryl group.

  Examples of the substituent that the electron-withdrawing heterocyclic group may have include a deuterium atom, a fluorine atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group which may be substituted with fluorine, and an alkyl group which may be substituted with fluorine. An aryl group which may be substituted with, an aryl group which may be substituted with fluorine; preferably a fluorine atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group which may be substituted with fluorine, and a fluorine-substituted group It is a good aryl group.

(For ^{D 1} and ^{D 2)}
D ¹ and D ² are each independently an electron donating group. The electron donating group includes an "aryl group substituted with an electron donating group", an "optionally substituted electron donating heterocyclic group", an "optionally substituted amino group", or an "alkyl group". Can be.

  The aryl group in the “aryl group substituted with an electron donating group” represented by D is preferably a group derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon ring having 6 to 24 carbon atoms. Examples of such aromatic hydrocarbon rings include benzene ring, indene ring, naphthalene ring, azulene ring, fluorene ring, phenanthrene ring, anthracene ring, acenaphthylene ring, biphenylene ring, naphthacene ring, pyrene ring, pentalene ring, ASEAN Tolylene ring, heptalene ring, triphenylene ring, as-indacene ring, chrysene ring, s-indacene ring, preaden ring, phenalene ring, fluoranthene ring, perylene ring, acephenanthrylene ring, biphenyl ring, terphenyl ring, and Tetraphenyl ring and the like are included. Of these, a benzene ring, naphthalene ring, fluorene ring, phenanthrene ring, anthracene ring, biphenylene ring, chrysene ring, pyrene ring, triphenylene ring, chrysene ring, fluoranthene ring, perylene ring, biphenyl ring, and terphenyl ring are preferable.

  Examples of the electron donating group contained in the aryl group include an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an optionally substituted amino group, an optionally substituted electron donating heterocyclic group, and the like. Of these, an optionally substituted amino group and an optionally substituted electron donating heterocyclic group are preferred.

  The alkyl group may be linear, branched or cyclic, and may be, for example, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a cyclic alkyl group having 5 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl Group, 2-ethylhexyl group, n-heptyl group, n-octyl group, 2-hexyloctyl group, n-nonyl group, n-decyl group, n-undecyl group, n-dodecyl group, n-tridecyl group, n- Tetradecyl group, n-pentadecyl group, n-hexadecyl group, n-heptadecyl group, n-octadecyl group, n-nonadecyl group, n-icosyl group and the like; preferably methyl group, ethyl group, isopropyl group, t -A butyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a 2-ethylhexyl group and a 2-hexyloctyl group.

  The alkoxy group may be linear, branched or cyclic, and may be, for example, a linear or branched alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a cyclic alkoxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of alkoxy groups include methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, t-butoxy, n-pentyloxy, neopentyloxy, n-hexyloxy Group, cyclohexyloxy group, n-heptyloxy group, n-octyloxy group, 2-ethylhexyloxy group, nonyloxy group, decyloxy group, 3,7-dimethyloctyloxy group, n-undecyloxy group, n-dodecyloxy group Group, n-tridecyloxy group, n-tetradecyloxy group, 2-n-hexyl-n-octyloxy group, n-pentadecyloxy group, n-hexadecyloxy group, n-heptadecyloxy group, n -Octadecyloxy group, n-nonadecyloxy group, n-icosyloxy group, etc. are included, preferably Alkoxy group, an ethoxy group, an isopropoxy group, t-butoxy group, cyclohexyloxy group, 2-ethylhexyl group, a 2-hexyl octyl group.

  Examples of the substituent in the amino group which may be substituted include an alkyl group and an aryl group which may be substituted with an alkyl group. The alkyl group and the aryl group have the same meanings as the alkyl group and the aryl group (in the aryl group substituted with an electron donating group), respectively.

  Examples of the electron-donating heterocyclic group which may be substituted include those similar to the electron-donating heterocyclic group described below.

  The “electron-donating heterocyclic group” in the “optionally substituted electron-donating heterocyclic group” represented by D is a group derived from an electron-donating heterocyclic ring having 4 to 24 carbon atoms. It is preferable that Examples of such heterocycles include pyrrole, indole, carbazole, indoloindole, 9,10-dihydroacridine, phenoxazine, phenothiazine, dibenzothiophene, benzofurylindole, benzothieno. Indole ring, indolocarbazole ring, benzofurylcarbazole ring, benzothienocarbazole ring, benzothienobenzothiophene ring, benzocarbazole ring, dibenzocarbazole ring, azacarbazole ring, diazacarbazole ring and the like are included. Among these, carbazole ring, indoloindole ring, 9,10-dihydroacridine ring, phenoxazine ring, phenothiazine ring, dibenzothiophene ring, and benzofurylindole ring are preferable. The electron-donating heterocyclic group may be a group in which two or more of the same or different heterocyclic rings are bonded via a single bond.

  Examples of the substituent that the heterocyclic group may have include an alkyl group and an aryl group that may be substituted with an alkyl group. An alkyl group and an aryl group are synonymous with the above-mentioned alkyl group and aryl group, respectively.

  Examples of the substituent in the “optionally substituted amino group” represented by D include an alkyl group and an aryl group optionally substituted with an alkyl group. The alkyl group and the aryl group may be the same as the aforementioned alkyl group and aryl group, respectively.

  The “alkyl group” represented by D has the same meaning as the aforementioned alkyl group.

  Among these, since the electron donating group D has a high electron donating property, it is preferably an “optionally substituted electron donating heterocyclic group”.

(For ^Z 1 ~Z ³⁾
Z ^{1 to} Z ³ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a deuterium atom, an electron donating group or an electron withdrawing group.

The electron donating group used as Z ^{1 to} Z ³ has the same meaning as the electron donating group described above.

The electron-withdrawing group used as Z ^{1 to} Z ³ is a fluorine atom, an alkyl group substituted with a fluorine atom, an optionally substituted carbonyl group, an optionally substituted sulfonyl group, or an optionally substituted phosphine. Examples thereof include an oxide group, an optionally substituted boryl group, an aryl group optionally substituted with an electron withdrawing group, and an optionally substituted electron withdrawing heterocyclic group. These are synonymous with the substituent which the above-mentioned electron withdrawing aromatic heterocyclic 5-membered ring skeleton may have.

（一般式（２）中、
Ａ^１は、一般式（１）のＡ^１と同義であり、
Ｄ^１〜Ｄ^３は、それぞれ一般式（１）のＤ^１及びＤ^２と同義であり、
Ｚ^２及びＺ^３は、それぞれ一般式（１）のＺ^１〜Ｚ^３と同義である） In the π-conjugated compound of the present invention, in the general formula (1), Z ¹ preferably represents an electron donating group (see the following general formula (2)). When Z ¹ is an electron-donating group, both sides of D ¹ which is an electron-donating group at the para position with respect to A ¹ which is an electron-withdrawing group are electron-donating groups, and three electron-donating groups are It becomes the structure which substitutes in the position which adjoins continuously. In such a structure, the rotational movement of the central electron donating group (electron donating group D ¹ ) sandwiched between two electron donating groups is suppressed, and the excited state as a compound is further stabilized.

(In general formula (2),
A ¹ has the same meaning as ^{A 1} in formula (1),
D ¹ to D ³ are respectively synonymous with ^{D 1} and ^{D 2} in the general formula (1),
Z ² and Z ³ are synonymous with Z ^{1 to} Z ^{3 in} the general formula (1), respectively)

（一般式（３）中、
Ａ^１は、一般式（１）のＡ^１と同義であり、
Ｄ^１〜Ｄ^３は、それぞれ一般式（１）のＤ^１及びＤ^２と同義である） Furthermore, in the π-conjugated compound of the present invention, in addition to Z ¹ being an electron donating group D, Z ² and Z ³ are more preferably hydrogen atoms (see the following general formula (3)). In addition to the fact that Z ¹ is an electron donating group D and Z ² and Z ³ are hydrogen atoms, the donor site and the acceptor site are separated from each other by a suitable distance. This is preferable because charge transfer to the acceptor does not occur.

(In general formula (3),
A ¹ has the same meaning as ^{A 1} in formula (1),
D ^{1 to} D ³ are synonymous with D ¹ and D ^{2 in} the general formula (1), respectively.

  The π-conjugated compound having the structure represented by the general formula (1) includes an organic electroluminescence element material containing the π-conjugated compound, a light-emitting thin film containing the π-conjugated compound, and the π-conjugated compound. It can be used as an organic electroluminescence device containing a compound.

  The π-conjugated compound having the structure represented by the general formula (1) is excited by electric field excitation and can generate excitons. Therefore, the π-conjugated compound having the structure represented by the general formula (1) is preferably included in the light emitting layer of the organic electroluminescence element. That is, from the viewpoint of high light emission, the light emitting layer uses a π-conjugated compound having a structure represented by the general formula (1) alone; or a π having a structure represented by the general formula (1). Whether it contains a conjugated compound and a host compound described later; at least one of a π-conjugated compound having a structure represented by the general formula (1), a fluorescent compound and a phosphorescent compound described later Or a π-conjugated compound having a structure represented by the general formula (1), at least one of a fluorescent compound and a phosphorescent compound described below, and a host compound described below It is preferable to contain.

In the π-conjugated compound having the structure represented by the general formula (1), the absolute value (ΔE _ST ) of the energy difference between the lowest excited singlet level and the lowest excited triplet level of the π-conjugated compound is It is preferable that it is 0.50 eV or less, and it is preferable to contain in the said organic electroluminescent element, the said element material, or the said luminescent thin film.

  The organic electroluminescence element of the present invention can be suitably included in a lighting device and a display device.

  Specific examples of preferred π-conjugated compounds according to the present invention are shown below. However, these compounds may further have a substituent or may have a structural isomer, and are limited to this description. Not.

The absolute value of the following materials 0.50eV of Delta] E _ST of these compounds are shown TADF resistance (delay fluorescent), i.e. it may emit delayed fluorescence. Here, exhibiting delayed fluorescence means that there are two or more types of components having different decay rates of emitted fluorescence when fluorescence decay measurement is performed. In general, the slow decay component generally has a decay time of sub-microseconds or more. However, the decay time is not limited because the decay time differs depending on the material. In general, fluorescence decay measurement can be performed as follows. A solution or thin film of a π-conjugated compound (luminescent compound) or a co-deposition film of the π-conjugated compound and the second component is irradiated with excitation light in a nitrogen atmosphere, and the number of photons at a certain emission wavelength is measured. At this time, the π-conjugated compound exhibits delayed fluorescence when there are two or more types of components having different decay rates of emitted fluorescence.

  Furthermore, since these compounds have bipolar properties and can cope with various energy levels, they can be used not only as a light emitting host but also as a compound suitable for hole transport and electron transport. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to use in a light emitting layer, and may be used for the above-described hole injection layer, hole transport layer, electron blocking layer, hole blocking layer, electron transport layer, electron injection layer, intermediate layer, and the like. .

<Synthesis method>
Examples of the π-conjugated compound include International Publication No. 2010/113755, Organic Letters, 2002, 4, 1783-1785. , Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 2014-2017. Or by referring to the methods described in the references described in these documents.

  Next, an organic EL light emitting system and a light emitting material related to the technical idea of the present invention will be described.

<Light emitting method of organic EL>
There are two types of organic EL emission methods: “phosphorescence emission” that emits light when returning from the triplet excited state to the ground state, and “fluorescence emission” that emits light when returning from the singlet excited state to the ground state. is there.
When excited by an electric field such as an organic EL, triplet excitons are generated with a probability of 75% and singlet excitons are generated with a probability of 25%. Therefore, phosphorescence is more efficient than fluorescence. This is an excellent method for realizing low power consumption.
On the other hand, in the fluorescence emission, the triplet excitons that are generated with a probability of 75% ordinarily, and the exciton energy becomes only heat due to non-radiation deactivation, are present at high density. There is a system using a TTA (triplet-triplet annealing: abbreviated as “TTF”) mechanism that generates singlet excitons from two triplet excitons to improve luminous efficiency. Has been found.

  Furthermore, in recent years, the discovery of Adachi et al. Has reduced the energy gap between the singlet excited state and the triplet excited state, so that the energy level of the triplet has a lower energy level due to the Joule heat during light emission and / or the environmental temperature where the light emitting element is placed. A phenomenon in which cross-reverse crossing occurs from a singlet excited state to a singlet excited state and, as a result, enables fluorescence emission nearly 100% (also referred to as thermally excited delayed fluorescence or thermally excited delayed fluorescence: “TADF”) A fluorescent substance that makes this possible has been found (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

<Phosphorescent compound>
As described above, phosphorescence is theoretically 3 times more advantageous than fluorescence in terms of light emission efficiency, but energy deactivation (= phosphorescence) from triplet excited state to singlet ground state is forbidden. Similarly, since the intersystem crossing from the singlet excited state to the triplet excited state is also a forbidden transition, the rate constant is usually small. That is, since the transition is difficult to occur, the exciton lifetime is increased from millisecond to second order, and it is difficult to obtain desired light emission.
However, when a complex using a heavy metal such as iridium or platinum emits light, the rate constant of the forbidden transition increases by 3 digits or more due to the heavy atom effect of the central metal. % Phosphorescence quantum yield can be obtained.
However, in order to obtain such ideal light emission, it is necessary to use a rare metal called a white metal such as iridium, palladium, or platinum, which is a rare metal. The price of the metal itself is a major industrial issue.

<Fluorescent compound>
A general fluorescent compound is not necessarily a heavy metal complex like a phosphorescent compound, and is a so-called organic compound composed of a combination of general elements such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen. In addition, other non-metallic elements such as phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon can be used, and complexes of typical metals such as aluminum and zinc can be used.
However, since only 25% of excitons can be applied to light emission as described above with conventional fluorescent compounds, high efficiency light emission such as phosphorescence emission cannot be expected.

<Delayed fluorescent compound>
[Excited triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) delayed fluorescent compound]
In order to solve the problems of fluorescent compounds, a light emission method using delayed fluorescence has appeared. The TTA method that originates from collisions between triplet excitons can be described by the following general formula. That is, there is a merit that a part of triplet excitons, in which the energy of excitons has been converted only to heat due to non-radiation deactivation, can cross back to singlet excitons that can contribute to light emission. Even in an actual organic EL device, it is possible to obtain an external extraction quantum efficiency approximately twice that of a conventional fluorescent light emitting device.
General formula: T ^* + T ^* → S ^* + S
(In the formula, T ^* represents a triplet exciton, S ^* represents a singlet exciton, and S represents a ground state molecule.)
However, as can be seen from the above equation, since only one singlet exciton that can be used for light emission is generated from two triplet excitons, it is impossible in principle to obtain 100% internal quantum efficiency.

[Thermal activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) compound]
The TADF method, which is another highly efficient fluorescent emission, is a method that can solve the problems of TTA.
As described above, the fluorescent compound has the advantage that the molecule can be designed infinitely. That is, among the molecularly designed compounds, there are compounds in which the energy level difference between the triplet excited state and the singlet excited state is extremely close.
Such compounds, even though in the molecule does not have a heavy atom, reverse intersystem crossing from a triplet excited state is usually not occur because Delta] E _ST is smaller to the singlet excited state occurs. Furthermore, since the rate constant of deactivation from singlet excited state to ground state (= fluorescence emission) is extremely large, triplet excitons themselves are thermally deactivated to ground state (non-radiative deactivation). It is more kinetically advantageous to return to the ground state while emitting fluorescence via the singlet excited state. Therefore, TADF theoretically enables 100% fluorescence emission.

<Molecular design concepts related to ΔE _ST>
It explained molecular design for reducing the Delta] E _ST.
ΔE in order to reduce the _ST is highest occupied molecular orbital in principle molecules (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital: HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital: LUMO) spatial overlap the small to most effects of Is.
In general, it is known that HOMO is distributed in electron donating sites and LUMO is distributed in electron withdrawing sites in the electron orbit of the molecule. It is possible to move away the position where LUMO exists.

For example, in "Organic optoelectronics at the stage of practical application", Vol. 82, No. 6, 2013, electron-withdrawing skeletons such as cyano groups and triazines and electron donations such as carbazole and diphenylamino groups By introducing a sex skeleton, LUMO and HOMO are localized.
It is also effective to reduce the change in molecular structure between the ground state and triplet excited state of the compound. As a method for reducing the structural change, for example, making the compound rigid is effective. Rigidity described here means that there are few sites that can move freely in the molecule, for example, by suppressing free rotation in the bond between the rings in the molecule or by introducing a condensed ring with a large π conjugate plane. means. In particular, it is possible to reduce the structural change in the excited state by making the portion involved in light emission rigid.

<General problems with TADF compounds>
TADF compounds have various problems in terms of their light emission mechanism and molecular structure. The following describes some of the problems generally associated with TADF compounds.
In TADF compound, it is necessary to release as possible sites present in the HOMO and LUMO in order to reduce the Delta] E _ST, Therefore, the electronic state of the molecule of the donor / acceptor type HOMO site and LUMO sites separated It becomes a state close to intramolecular CT (intramolecular charge transfer state).

  When a plurality of such molecules are present, stabilization is achieved by bringing the donor part of one molecule and the acceptor part of the other molecule close to each other. Such a stabilization state is not limited to the formation between two molecules, but can also be formed between a plurality of molecules such as three or five molecules. As a result, various stabilization states with a wide distribution are obtained. As a result, the shape of the absorption spectrum and emission spectrum becomes broad. In addition, even when a multimolecular assembly exceeding two molecules is not formed, various existence states can be taken depending on the direction and angle of interaction between the two molecules. The shape of the emission spectrum becomes broad.

  The broad emission spectrum creates two major problems. One problem is that the color purity of the emitted color is lowered. This is not a big problem when applied to lighting applications, but when used for electronic displays, the color gamut is small and the color reproducibility of pure colors is low. It becomes difficult.

Another problem is the rising wavelength on the short wavelength side of the emission spectrum (referred to as "fluorescent 0-0 band".) To reduce the wavelength, i.e. higher S ₁ (higher energy of the lowest excited singlet energy level) It is to do.
Naturally, when the wavelength of the fluorescent 0-0 band is shortened, the phosphorescent 0-0 band derived from T ₁ having lower energy than S ₁ is also shortened (increased T ₁ level). Therefore, the compound used for the host compound needs to have a high S ₁ level and a high T ₁ level in order to prevent reverse energy transfer from the dopant.
This is a very big problem. A host compound consisting essentially of an organic compound takes a plurality of active and unstable chemical species such as a cation radical state, an anion radical state, and an excited state in an organic EL device. By expanding the π-conjugated system, it can exist relatively stably.

However, in order to impart a high S ₁ level and a high T ₁ level to a molecule, it is necessary to reduce or cut off the π-conjugated system in the molecule, making it difficult to achieve both stability and As a result, the lifetime of the light emitting element is shortened.
In addition, in a TADF compound that does not contain a heavy metal, a transition that is deactivated from a triplet excited state to a ground state is a forbidden transition, and therefore the existence time (exciton lifetime) in the triplet excited state is from several hundred microseconds to millisecond. It is very long with second order. For this reason, even if the T ₁ energy level of the host compound is higher than that of the fluorescent compound, the triplet excited state of the fluorescent compound from the triplet excited state to the host compound is determined from the length of the existence time. The probability of causing reverse energy transfer increases. As a result, the reverse reverse energy transfer from the triplet excited state to the singlet excited state of the originally intended TADF compound does not occur sufficiently, and unfavorable reverse energy transfer to the host compound becomes the mainstream, resulting in sufficient luminous efficiency. Inconvenience that cannot be obtained.

In order to solve the above problems, it is necessary to sharpen the emission spectrum shape of the TADF compound and reduce the difference between the emission maximum wavelength and the rising wavelength of the emission spectrum. This can be basically achieved by reducing the change in the molecular structure of the singlet excited state and the triplet excited state.
In order to suppress reverse energy transfer to the host compound, it is effective to shorten the existence time (exciton lifetime) of the triplet excited state of the TADF compound. To achieve this, it is necessary to take measures such as reducing the molecular structure change between the ground state and the triplet excited state and introducing suitable substituents and elements to undo the forbidden transition. Can be solved.

  In the present invention, in a π-conjugated compound having a benzene ring, an electron-withdrawing group A substituted for it, and an electron-donating group D, at least one of the combinations of ortho positions substituted for the benzene ring is designated as “electron donation”. Group D and electron donating group D "," electron withdrawing group A and electron withdrawing group A ", or" electron withdrawing group A and electron donating group D ".

  Two or more electron-donating groups (or two or more electron-withdrawing groups A) are substituted at the ortho position of the benzene ring; that is, they are “adjacent in space” so that they are electron-donating in the excited state. A plurality of electron-donating groups (or electron-withdrawing groups) can be stabilized by spatially resonating and stabilizing the positive charge of the part (or the negative charge of the electron-withdrawing part). Thus, it is considered that non-radiation deactivation can be suppressed and luminous efficiency can be increased.

  By arranging the electron-withdrawing group A and the electron-donating group D at the ortho position of the benzene ring, the electron-donating group D and the electron-withdrawing group A are “spatially adjacent”. Thus, a CT excited state is not formed from the electron-donating group D to the electron-withdrawing group A via a bond, but between the electron-donating group D and the electron-withdrawing group A located in the immediate vicinity. Since the CT excited state can be formed and the CT excited state is stabilized, the light emission efficiency is considered to increase.

  Furthermore, in any embodiment, since the electron-withdrawing group A and the electron-donating group D are not linked by a through bond but interacted through a through space, the absorption spectrum and the emission spectrum are prevented from becoming longer wavelengths. It is considered possible.

  Hereinafter, various measurement methods relating to the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention will be described.

[Electron density distribution]
Π conjugated compound according to the present invention, from the viewpoint of reducing the Delta] E _ST, it is preferable that HOMO and LUMO are substantially separated in the molecule. The distribution states of these HOMO and LUMO can be obtained from the electron density distribution when the structure is optimized by molecular orbital calculation.
In the present invention, the structure optimization and the calculation of the electron density distribution by molecular orbital calculation of the π-conjugated compound in the present invention are performed by using molecular orbital calculation software using B3LYP as a functional and 6-31G (d) as a basis function as a calculation method. There is no particular limitation on the software, and any of them can be similarly calculated.
In the present invention, Gaussian 09 (Revision C.01, MJ Frisch, et al, Gaussian, Inc., 2010.) manufactured by Gaussian, USA was used as molecular orbital calculation software.

Further, “HOMO and LUMO are substantially separated” means that the central part of the HOMO orbital distribution and the LUMO orbital distribution calculated by the molecular calculation are separated, more preferably the HOMO orbital distribution and the LUMO orbital. This means that the distributions of do not overlap.
As for the separation state of HOMO and LUMO, from the above-described structure optimization calculation using B3LYP as the functional and 6-31G (d) as the basis function, the time-dependent density functional method (Time-Dependent DFT) is used. The excited state calculation is performed to obtain the energy levels of S ₁ and T ₁ (E (S ₁ ) and E (T ₁ ), respectively), and ΔE _ST = | E (S ₁ ) −E (T ₁ ) | It is also possible to calculate. As calculated Delta] E _ST is small, indicating that the HOMO and LUMO are more separated. In the present invention, it is Delta] E _ST calculated using the calculation method similar to that described above or less 0.50EV, preferably not more than 0.30 eV, more preferably not more than 0.10 eV.

[Lowest excitation singlet energy level S ₁ ]
The lowest excited singlet energy level S ₁ of the π-conjugated compound in the present invention is defined in the present invention as calculated in the same manner as in a normal method. That is, a sample to be measured is deposited on a quartz substrate to prepare a sample, and the absorption spectrum (vertical axis: absorbance, horizontal axis: wavelength) of this sample is measured at room temperature (300 K). A tangent line is drawn with respect to the rising edge of the absorption spectrum on the long wavelength side, and is calculated from a predetermined conversion formula based on the wavelength value at the intersection of the tangent line and the horizontal axis.
However, when the molecules themselves of the π-conjugated compound used in the present invention have a relatively high aggregation property, an error due to aggregation may occur in the measurement of the thin film. In consideration of the fact that the π-conjugated compound in the present invention has a relatively small Stokes shift and that the structural change between the excited state and the ground state is small, the lowest excited singlet energy level S ₁ in the present invention is room temperature (25 ° C. The peak value of the maximum emission wavelength in the solution state of the π-conjugated compound in (1) was used as an approximate value.
Here, as the solvent to be used, a solvent that does not affect the aggregation state of the π-conjugated compound, that is, a solvent having a small influence of the solvent effect, for example, a nonpolar solvent such as cyclohexane or toluene can be used.

[Lowest excited triplet energy level T ₁ ]
The lowest excited triplet energy level (T ₁ ) of the π-conjugated compound used in the present invention was calculated from the photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of the solution or thin film. For example, as a calculation method in a thin film, after making a dispersion of a dilute π-conjugated compound into a thin film, using a streak camera, the transient PL characteristics are measured to separate the fluorescent component and the phosphorescent component, the absolute value of the energy difference can be determined the lowest excited triplet energy level of the lowest excited singlet energy level as Delta] E _ST.
In measurement / evaluation, an absolute PL quantum yield measurement apparatus C9920-02 (manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics) was used for measurement of the absolute PL quantum yield. The light emission lifetime was measured using a streak camera C4334 (manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics) while exciting the sample with laser light.

<< Constitutional layer of organic EL element >>
The organic EL device of the present invention is an organic electroluminescence device having at least a light emitting layer between an anode and a cathode, and at least one of the light emitting layers has a structure represented by the general formula (1). It contains a conjugated compound.
As typical element structures in the organic EL element of the present invention, the following structures can be exemplified, but the invention is not limited thereto.
(1) Anode / light emitting layer // cathode (2) Anode / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / cathode (3) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / cathode (4) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / Electron transport layer / cathode (5) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / electron injection layer / cathode (6) Anode / hole injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / cathode (7) Anode / hole injection layer / hole transport layer / (electron blocking layer /) light emitting layer / (hole blocking layer /) electron transport layer / electron injection layer / cathode Among the above, the configuration of (7) is Although used preferably, it is not limited to this.
The light emitting layer used in the present invention is composed of a single layer or a plurality of layers. When there are a plurality of light emitting layers, a non-light emitting intermediate layer may be provided between the light emitting layers.

If necessary, a hole blocking layer (also referred to as a hole blocking layer) or an electron injection layer (also referred to as a cathode buffer layer) may be provided between the light emitting layer and the cathode. An electron blocking layer (also referred to as an electron barrier layer) or a hole injection layer (also referred to as an anode buffer layer) may be provided therebetween.
The electron transport layer used in the present invention is a layer having a function of transporting electrons, and in a broad sense, an electron injection layer and a hole blocking layer are also included in the electron transport layer. Moreover, you may be comprised by multiple layers.
The hole transport layer used in the present invention is a layer having a function of transporting holes, and in a broad sense, a hole injection layer and an electron blocking layer are also included in the hole transport layer. Moreover, you may be comprised by multiple layers.
In the above-described typical element configuration, the layer excluding the anode and the cathode is also referred to as “organic layer”.

(Tandem structure)
The organic EL element of the present invention may be a so-called tandem element in which a plurality of light emitting units including at least one light emitting layer are stacked.
As typical element configurations of the tandem structure, for example, the following configurations can be given.
Anode / first light emitting unit / intermediate layer / second light emitting unit / intermediate layer / third light emitting unit / cathode Here, the first light emitting unit, the second light emitting unit and the third light emitting unit are all the same, May be different. Two light emitting units may be the same, and the remaining one may be different.
A plurality of light emitting units may be laminated directly or via an intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer is generally an intermediate electrode, an intermediate conductive layer, a charge generation layer, an electron extraction layer, a connection layer, an intermediate layer. A known material structure can be used as long as it is also called an insulating layer and has a function of supplying electrons to the anode-side adjacent layer and holes to the cathode-side adjacent layer.

Examples of materials used for the intermediate layer include ITO (indium tin oxide), IZO (indium zinc oxide), ZnO ₂ , TiN, ZrN, HfN, TiOx, VOx, CuI, InN, GaN, CuAlO ₂ , Conductive inorganic compound layers such as CuGaO ₂ , SrCu ₂ O ₂ , LaB ₆ , RuO ₂ and Al, two-layer films such as Au / Bi ₂ O ₃ , SnO ₂ / Ag / SnO ₂ , ZnO / Ag / ZnO , Bi ₂ O ₃ / Au / Bi ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ / TiN / TiO ₂ , TiO ₂ / ZrN / TiO _{2 and} other multilayer films, C _{60 and} other fullerenes, conductive organic layers such as oligothiophene, Examples include conductive organic compound layers such as metal phthalocyanines, metal-free phthalocyanines, metal porphyrins, metal-free porphyrins, etc. The invention is not limited to these.
As a preferable configuration in the light emitting unit, for example, a configuration in which the anode and the cathode are excluded from the configurations (1) to (7) described in the above-described typical element configurations, and the like is described. It is not limited.

  Specific examples of the tandem organic EL element include, for example, US Pat. No. 6,337,492, US Pat. No. 7,420,203, US Pat. No. 7,473,923, US Pat. No. 6,872,472, US Pat. No. 6,107,734, US Pat. No. 6,337,492, International JP 2005/009087, JP 2006-228712, JP 2006-24791, JP 2006-49393, JP 2006-49394, JP 2006-49396, JP 2011. No. -96679, JP 2005-340187, JP 47114424, JP 34096681, JP 3884564, JP 431169, JP 2010-192719, JP 2009-076929, JP Open 2008-0784 No. 4, JP 2007-059848 A, JP 2003-272860 A, JP 2003-045676 A, International Publication No. 2005/094130, and the like. The present invention is not limited to these.

  Hereinafter, each layer which comprises the organic EL element of this invention is demonstrated.

<Light emitting layer>
The light-emitting layer used in the present invention is a layer that provides a field in which electrons and holes injected from an electrode or an adjacent layer are recombined to emit light via excitons, and the light-emitting portion is the light-emitting layer. Even in the layer, it may be the interface between the light emitting layer and the adjacent layer. If the light emitting layer used for this invention satisfy | fills the requirements prescribed | regulated by this invention, there will be no restriction | limiting in particular in the structure.
The total thickness of the light emitting layer is not particularly limited, but it prevents the uniformity of the film to be formed, the application of unnecessary high voltage during light emission, and the improvement of the stability of the emission color against the drive current. From a viewpoint, it is preferable to adjust to the range of 2 nm-5 micrometers, More preferably, it adjusts to the range of 2-500 nm, More preferably, it adjusts to the range of 5-200 nm.
Further, the thickness of each light emitting layer used in the present invention is preferably adjusted to a range of 2 nm to 1 μm, more preferably adjusted to a range of 2 to 200 nm, and further preferably in a range of 3 to 150 nm. Adjusted.
The light emitting layer used in the present invention may be a single layer or a plurality of layers. When the π-conjugated compound of the present application is used for the light emitting layer, it may be used alone or in combination with a host material, a fluorescent light emitting material, a phosphorescent light emitting material, etc. described later. At least one layer of the light-emitting layer contains a light-emitting dopant (a light-emitting compound, a light-emitting dopant, or simply a dopant), and further contains a host compound (a matrix material, a light-emitting host compound, or simply a host). preferable. In the π-conjugated compound of the present application, it is preferable that at least one layer of the light-emitting layer contains the π-conjugated compound of the present application and a host compound because luminous efficiency is improved. It is preferable that at least one layer of the light-emitting layer contains the π-conjugated compound of the present application and at least one of a fluorescent compound and a phosphorescent compound because luminous efficiency is improved. It is preferable that at least one layer of the light emitting layer contains the present π-conjugated compound, at least one of a fluorescent light emitting compound and a phosphorescent light emitting compound, and a host compound because the light emission efficiency is improved.

(1.1) Luminescent dopant As the luminescent dopant, a fluorescent luminescent dopant (also referred to as a fluorescent luminescent compound or a fluorescent dopant) and a phosphorescent dopant (also referred to as a phosphorescent luminescent compound or a phosphorescent dopant) are used. Preferably used. In the present invention, the light-emitting layer contains the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention as a fluorescent light-emitting compound or an assist dopant in the range of 0.1 to 50% by mass, particularly 1 to 30% by mass. It is preferable to contain within the range.

In this invention, it is preferable that a light emitting layer contains a luminescent compound in the range of 0.1-50 mass%, and contains in the range of 1-30 mass% especially.
The concentration of the luminescent compound in the luminescent layer can be arbitrarily determined based on the specific luminescent compound used and the requirements of the device. It may be contained and may have any concentration distribution.
In addition, the luminescent compound used in the present invention may be used in combination of two or more types, a combination of fluorescent luminescent compounds having different structures, or a combination of a fluorescent luminescent compound and a phosphorescent luminescent compound. May be. Thereby, arbitrary luminescent colors can be obtained.

The absolute value (ΔE _ST ) of the difference between the lowest excited singlet energy level and the lowest excited triplet energy level is 0.50 eV or less, a π-conjugated compound according to the present invention, a luminescent compound, and a host compound. When contained in the light emitting layer, the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention acts as an assist dopant. On the other hand, when the light emitting layer contains the π-conjugated compound and the luminescent compound according to the present invention and does not contain the host compound, the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention acts as a host compound. When the light emitting layer contains only the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention, the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention acts as a host compound / light-emitting compound.
The mechanism for producing the effect is the same in any case, and the triplet exciton generated on the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention is converted into a singlet exciton by reverse intersystem crossing (RISC). It is in.
As a result, all the exciton energies generated on the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention can be transferred to the luminescent compound by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), thereby realizing high luminous efficiency.
Therefore, when the light emitting layer contains the three components of the π-conjugated compound, the luminescent compound, and the host compound according to the present invention, the energy levels of S ₁ and T ₁ of the π-conjugated compound are S of the host compound. ₁ and T ₁ of the lower than the energy level, it is preferably higher than the energy level of the S ₁ and T ₁ of the light-emitting compound.
Similarly, light emitting layer, the energy level of the S ₁ and T ₁ of the case containing the two components of the light emitting compound and [pi conjugated compound according to the present invention, [pi-conjugated compounds, S ₁ luminescent compound higher than the energy level of T ₁ and is preferable.

3 and 4 are schematic views when the pi-conjugated compound of the present invention acts as an assist dopant and a host compound, respectively. 3 and 4 are examples, and the generation process of the triplet exciton generated on the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention is not limited to the electric field excitation, and the energy transfer from the light emitting layer or the peripheral layer interface. And electronic transfer.
Further, in FIGS. 3 and 4, a fluorescent compound is used as a light-emitting material, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a phosphorescent compound may be used, or a fluorescent compound and a phosphorescent compound may be used. Both of the functional compounds may be used.

  When the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention is used as an assist dopant, the light-emitting layer contains a host compound in a mass ratio of 100% or more with respect to the π-conjugated compound, and the fluorescent compound and / or phosphorescent compound. Is preferably contained within a range of 0.1 to 50% by mass with respect to the π-conjugated compound.

  In the case where the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention is used as a host compound, the light emitting layer has a mass ratio of 0.1 to 50% of the fluorescent compound and / or the phosphorescent compound with respect to the π-conjugated compound. It is preferable to contain.

  When the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention is used as an assistor dopant or host compound, it is preferable that the emission spectrum of the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention and the absorption spectrum of the luminescent compound overlap.

The light emission color of the organic EL device of the present invention and the compound used in the present invention is shown in FIG. It is determined by the color when the result measured with the luminance meter CS-1000 (manufactured by Konica Minolta Co., Ltd.) is applied to the CIE chromaticity coordinates.
In the present invention, it is also preferable that the light emitting layer of one layer or a plurality of layers contains a plurality of light emitting dopants having different emission colors and emits white light.
There are no particular limitations on the combination of light-emitting dopants that exhibit white, and examples include blue and orange, and a combination of blue, green, and red.
The white color in the organic EL device of the present invention means that the chromaticity in the CIE 1931 color system at 1000 cd / m ² is x = 0.39 ± 0.09 when the 2 ° viewing angle front luminance is measured by the method described above. Y = 0.38 ± 0.08.

(1.2) Fluorescent Luminescent Dopant As the fluorescent luminescent dopant (fluorescent dopant), the π-conjugated compound of the present invention may be used, or a known fluorescent dopant or delayed fluorescence used in the light emitting layer of the organic EL device. You may use it, selecting suitably from sex dopant.

  Specific examples of known fluorescent dopants that can be used in the present invention include, for example, anthracene derivatives, pyrene derivatives, chrysene derivatives, fluoranthene derivatives, perylene derivatives, fluorene derivatives, arylacetylene derivatives, styrylarylene derivatives, styrylamine derivatives, arylamine derivatives. , Boron complexes, coumarin derivatives, pyran derivatives, cyanine derivatives, croconium derivatives, squalium derivatives, oxobenzanthracene derivatives, fluorescein derivatives, rhodamine derivatives, pyrylium derivatives, perylene derivatives, polythiophene derivatives, rare earth complex compounds, and the like. In recent years, light emitting dopants utilizing delayed fluorescence have been developed, and these may be used. Specific examples of the luminescent dopant using delayed fluorescence include, for example, compounds described in International Publication No. 2011/156793, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-213643, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-93181, Japanese Patent No. 5366106, and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to these.

(1.3) Phosphorescent dopant The phosphorescent dopant used in the present invention will be described.
The phosphorescent dopant used in the present invention is a compound in which light emission from an excited triplet is observed, specifically, a compound that emits phosphorescence at room temperature (25 ° C.), and a phosphorescence quantum yield. Is defined as a compound of 0.01 or more at 25 ° C., but a preferable phosphorescence quantum yield is 0.1 or more.
The phosphorescence quantum yield can be measured by the method described in Spectroscopic II, page 398 (1992 edition, Maruzen) of Experimental Chemistry Course 4 of the 4th edition. Although the phosphorescence quantum yield in a solution can be measured using various solvents, the phosphorescence dopant used in the present invention achieves the phosphorescence quantum yield (0.01 or more) in any solvent. Just do it.

The phosphorescent dopant can be appropriately selected from known materials used for the light emitting layer of the organic EL device. Specific examples of known phosphorescent dopants that can be used in the present invention include compounds described in the following documents.
Nature 395, 151 (1998), Appl. Phys. Lett. 78, 1622 (2001), Adv. Mater. 19, 739 (2007), Chem. Mater. 17, 3532 (2005), Adv. Mater. 17, 1059 (2005), International Publication No. 2009/100991, International Publication No. 2008/101842, International Publication No. 2003/040257, US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/835469, US Patent Application Publication No. 2006 /. No. 0202194, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0087321, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0244673, Inorg. Chem. 40, 1704 (2001), Chem. Mater. 16, 2480 (2004), Adv. Mater. 16, 2003 (2004), Angew. Chem. lnt. Ed. 2006, 45, 7800, Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 153505 (2005), Chem. Lett. 34, 592 (2005), Chem. Commun. 2906 (2005), Inorg. Chem. 42, 1248 (2003), International Publication No. 2009/050290, International Publication No. 2002/015645, International Publication No. 2009/000673, US Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0034656, US Pat. No. 7,332,232, US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0108737, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0039776, United States Patent No. 6921915, United States Patent No. 6,687,266, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0190359, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0008670, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0165846, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0015355, United States Patent No. 7250226, United States Patent No. 7396598, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2006 0263635 Pat, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0138657, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0152802, U.S. Patent No. 7090928, Angew. Chem. lnt. Ed. 47, 1 (2008), Chem. Mater. 18, 5119 (2006), Inorg. Chem. 46, 4308 (2007), Organometallics 23, 3745 (2004), Appl. Phys. Lett. 74, 1361 (1999), International Publication No. 2002/002714, International Publication No. 2006/009024, International Publication No. 2006/056418, International Publication No. 2005/019373, International Publication No. 2005/123873, International Publication No. 2005/123873, International Publication No. 2007/004380, International Publication No. 2006/082742, US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0251923, US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0260441, US Pat. No. 7,393,599. , US Pat. No. 7,534,505, US Pat. No. 7,445,855, US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0190359, US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0297033, US Pat. No. 7,338,722, US Patent Application Publication No. 2002 / 0 No. 34984, U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/098120, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/103874, WO 2005/076380, WO 2010/032663. International Publication No. 2008140115, International Publication No. 2007/052431, International Publication No. 2011/134013, International Publication No. 2011/157339, International Publication No. 2010/086089, International Publication No. 2009/113646, International Publication No. 2012/020327, International Publication No. 2011/051404, International Publication No. 2011/004639, International Publication No. 2011/073149, US Patent Application Publication No. 2012/228583, US Patent Application Publication No. 2012/21211. No. 6, JP 2012-069737 A, Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-181303, JP 2009-114086, JP 2003-81988, JP 2002-302671, JP 2002-363552. No. gazette.
Among these, a preferable phosphorescent dopant includes an organometallic complex having Ir as a central metal. More preferably, a complex containing at least one coordination mode of a metal-carbon bond, a metal-nitrogen bond, a metal-oxygen bond, or a metal-sulfur bond is preferable.

(2) Host compound The host compound used in the present invention is a compound mainly responsible for charge injection and transport in the light emitting layer, and its own light emission is not substantially observed in the organic EL device.
The host compound preferably has a mass ratio in the layer of 20% or more among the compounds contained in the light emitting layer.
A host compound may be used independently or may be used in combination of multiple types. By using a plurality of types of host compounds, it is possible to adjust the movement of electric charge, and the efficiency of the organic electroluminescence element can be improved.
The host compound that is preferably used in the present invention will be described below.

As the host compound, the π-conjugated compound used in the present invention may be used as described above, but there is no particular limitation. From the viewpoint of reverse energy transfer is preferably one having a larger excitation energy than the excited singlet energy of the dopant, and more preferably even more with a large triplet energy than triplet energy of the dopant.
The host compound is responsible for carrier transport and exciton generation in the light emitting layer. Therefore, it can exist stably in all active species states such as cation radical state, anion radical state, and excited state, and does not cause chemical changes such as decomposition and addition reaction. It is preferable not to move at the angstrom level.

In particular, when the luminescent dopant used in combination exhibits TADF emission, the existence time of the triplet excited state of the TADF compound is long, so that the T ₁ energy level of the host compound itself is high, and the host compounds are associated with each other. Molecules in which the host compound does not decrease in T ₁ , such as not forming a low T ₁ state in the state, TADF compound and the host compound do not form an exciplex, or the host compound does not form an electromer due to an electric field. Appropriate design of the structure is required.
In order to satisfy these requirements, the host compound itself must have high electron hopping mobility, high hole hopping movement, and small structural change when it is in a triplet excited state. It is. Preferred examples of host compounds that satisfy such requirements include those having a high T ₁ energy level such as a carbazole skeleton, an azacarbazole skeleton, a dibenzofuran skeleton, a dibenzothiophene skeleton, or an azadibenzofuran skeleton.

In addition, the host compound has a hole transporting ability or an electron transporting ability, prevents the emission of light from becoming longer, and further stabilizes the organic electroluminescence device against heat generation during high temperature driving or during device driving. From the viewpoint of operating, it is preferable to have a high glass transition temperature (Tg). Tg is preferably 90 ° C. or higher, more preferably 120 ° C. or higher.
Here, the glass transition point (Tg) is a value obtained by a method based on JIS K 7121-2012 using DSC (Differential Scanning Colorimetry).

As the host compound used in the present invention, it is also preferable to use the π-conjugated compound according to the present invention as described above. The π-conjugated compound according to the present invention has a high T ₁ and can be suitably used for a light-emitting material having a short emission wavelength (that is, a high energy level of T ₁ and S ₁ ). It is.

When a known host compound is used in the organic EL device of the present invention, specific examples thereof include compounds described in the following documents, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
JP-A-2001-257076, 2002-308855, 2001-313179, 2002-319491, 2001-357777, 2002-334786, 2002-8860, 2002-334787, 2002-15871, 2002-334788, 2002-43056, 2002-334789, 2002-75645, 2002-338579, 2002-105445 gazette, 2002-343568 gazette, 2002-141173 gazette, 2002-352957 gazette, 2002-203683 gazette, 2002-363227 gazette, 2002-231453 gazette, No. 003-3165, No. 2002-234888, No. 2003-27048, No. 2002-255934, No. 2002-286061, No. 2002-280183, No. 2002-299060, No. 2002. -302516, 2002-305083, 2002-305084, 2002-308837, US Patent Publication No. 20030175553, United States Patent Publication No. 20060280965, United States Patent Publication No. 20050112407, United States Patent Publication 20090017330, U.S. Patent Publication No. 20090030202, U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050238919, International Publication No. 2001039234, International Publication No. 200902126, International Publication No. No. 8056746, International Publication No. 2004093207, International Publication No. 2005089025, International Publication No. 20077063796, International Publication No. 2007076754, International Publication No. 2004078822, International Publication No. 2005030900, International Publication No. 20060146966, International Publication No. 2009086028 International Publication No. 2009003898, International Publication No. 20120203947, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-074939, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-254297, EP2034538, International Publication No. 20111055933, International Publication No. 20122035853, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-338941, and the like. . Examples of the host compound described in JP-A-2015-38941 include compounds H-1 to H-230 described in [0255] to [0293] of the specification.
Specific examples of the host compound used in the present invention are shown below, but are not limited thereto.

上記一般式（Ｉ）中、Ｘ_１０１は、ＮＲ_１０１、酸素原子、硫黄原子、スルフィニル基、スルホニル基、ＣＲ_１０２Ｒ_１０３又はＳｉＲ_１０４Ｒ_１０５を表す。また、ｙ_１〜ｙ_８は、それぞれ独立に、ＣＲ_１０６、又は窒素原子を表す。ここで、Ｒ_１０１〜Ｒ_１０６は、それぞれ独立に、水素原子又は置換基を表し、互いに結合して環を形成してもよい。Ｒ_１０１〜Ｒ_１０６でありうる置換基の例には、以下の基が含まれる。 Furthermore, the host compound used in the present invention is preferably a compound represented by the following general formula (I). The compound represented by the following general formula (I) has bipolar properties and is very stable. Therefore, when the host compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (I), the life of the organic EL device tends to be long.

In the above general formula (I), X ₁₀₁ represents NR ₁₀₁ , an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a sulfinyl group, a sulfonyl group, CR ₁₀₂ R ₁₀₃ or SiR ₁₀₄ R ₁₀₅ . _Further, y 1 ~y ₈ each _{independently} represent a _{CR 106,} or a nitrogen atom. Here, R _{101 to} R ₁₀₆ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring. Examples of substituents that can be R _{101 to} R ₁₀₆ include the following groups.

Linear or branched alkyl group (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, t-butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group, octyl group, dodecyl group, tridecyl group, tetradecyl group, pentadecyl group, etc. );
An alkenyl group (eg, vinyl group, allyl group, etc.);
An alkynyl group (eg, ethynyl group, propargyl group, etc.);
Aromatic hydrocarbon ring group (also called aromatic carbocyclic group, aryl group, etc. For example, benzene ring, biphenyl, naphthalene ring, azulene ring, anthracene ring, phenanthrene ring, pyrene ring, chrysene ring, naphthacene ring, triphenylene Ring, o-terphenyl ring, m-terphenyl ring, p-terphenyl ring, acenaphthene ring, coronene ring, indene ring, fluorene ring, fluoranthrene ring, naphthacene ring, pentacene ring, perylene ring, pentaphen ring, picene A group derived from a ring, pyrene ring, pyranthrene ring, anthraanthrene ring, tetralin, etc.);
Aromatic heterocyclic group (eg, furan ring, dibenzofuran ring, thiophene ring, dibenzothiophene ring, oxazole ring, pyrrole ring, pyridine ring, pyridazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyrazine ring, triazine ring, benzimidazole ring, oxadiazole ring , Triazole ring, imidazole ring, pyrazole ring, thiazole ring, indole ring, indazole ring, benzimidazole ring, benzothiazole ring, benzoxazole ring, quinoxaline ring, quinazoline ring, cinnoline ring, quinoline ring, isoquinoline ring, phthalazine ring, naphthyridine Rings, carbazole rings, carboline rings, diazacarbazole rings (groups derived from a ring in which one of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon ring constituting the carboline ring is further substituted with a nitrogen atom, etc. In addition, carboline ring and diazacarbazo The combined Le ring sometimes referred to as "azacarbazole ring").;
Non-aromatic hydrocarbon ring group (for example, cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, etc.);
Non-aromatic heterocyclic group (for example, pyrrolidyl group, imidazolidyl group, morpholyl group, oxazolidyl group, etc.);
Alkoxy groups (for example, methoxy group, ethoxy group, propyloxy group, pentyloxy group, hexyloxy group, octyloxy group, dodecyloxy group, etc.);
A cycloalkoxy group (for example, a cyclopentyloxy group, a cyclohexyloxy group, etc.);
An aryloxy group (eg, phenoxy group, naphthyloxy group, etc.);
Alkylthio groups (for example, methylthio group, ethylthio group, propylthio group, pentylthio group, hexylthio group, octylthio group, dodecylthio group, etc.);
A cycloalkylthio group (for example, a cyclopentylthio group, a cyclohexylthio group, etc.);
Arylthio group (for example, phenylthio group, naphthylthio group, etc.):
Alkoxycarbonyl groups (eg, methyloxycarbonyl group, ethyloxycarbonyl group, butyloxycarbonyl group, octyloxycarbonyl group, dodecyloxycarbonyl group, etc.);
An aryloxycarbonyl group (eg, phenyloxycarbonyl group, naphthyloxycarbonyl group, etc.);
Sulfamoyl group (for example, aminosulfonyl group, methylaminosulfonyl group, dimethylaminosulfonyl group, butylaminosulfonyl group, hexylaminosulfonyl group, cyclohexylaminosulfonyl group, octylaminosulfonyl group, dodecylaminosulfonyl group, phenylaminosulfonyl group, naphthyl) Aminosulfonyl group, 2-pyridylaminosulfonyl group, etc.);
Acyl group (for example, acetyl group, ethylcarbonyl group, propylcarbonyl group, pentylcarbonyl group, cyclohexylcarbonyl group, octylcarbonyl group, 2-ethylhexylcarbonyl group, dodecylcarbonyl group, phenylcarbonyl group, naphthylcarbonyl group, pyridylcarbonyl group, etc. );
An acyloxy group (for example, acetyloxy group, ethylcarbonyloxy group, butylcarbonyloxy group, octylcarbonyloxy group, dodecylcarbonyloxy group, phenylcarbonyloxy group, etc.);
Amido group (for example, methylcarbonylamino group, ethylcarbonylamino group, dimethylcarbonylamino group, propylcarbonylamino group, pentylcarbonylamino group, cyclohexylcarbonylamino group, 2-ethylhexylcarbonylamino group, octylcarbonylamino group, dodecylcarbonylamino group) Group, phenylcarbonylamino group, naphthylcarbonylamino group, etc.);
Carbamoyl group (for example, aminocarbonyl group, methylaminocarbonyl group, dimethylaminocarbonyl group, propylaminocarbonyl group, pentylaminocarbonyl group, cyclohexylaminocarbonyl group, octylaminocarbonyl group, 2-ethylhexylaminocarbonyl group, dodecylaminocarbonyl group) , Phenylaminocarbonyl group, naphthylaminocarbonyl group, 2-pyridylaminocarbonyl group, etc.);
A ureido group (for example, methylureido group, ethylureido group, pentylureido group, cyclohexylureido group, octylureido group, dodecylureido group, phenylureido group, naphthylureido group, 2-pyridylaminoureido group);
A sulfinyl group (for example, methylsulfinyl group, ethylsulfinyl group, butylsulfinyl group, cyclohexylsulfinyl group, 2-ethylhexylsulfinyl group, dodecylsulfinyl group, phenylsulfinyl group, naphthylsulfinyl group, 2-pyridylsulfinyl group, etc.);
Alkylsulfonyl groups (for example, methylsulfonyl group, ethylsulfonyl group, butylsulfonyl group, cyclohexylsulfonyl group, 2-ethylhexylsulfonyl group, dodecylsulfonyl group, etc.);
Arylsulfonyl group or heteroarylsulfonyl group (for example, phenylsulfonyl group, naphthylsulfonyl group, 2-pyridylsulfonyl group, etc.);
Amino group (for example, amino group, ethylamino group, dimethylamino group, butylamino group, cyclopentylamino group, 2-ethylhexylamino group, dodecylamino group, anilino group, naphthylamino group, 2-pyridylamino group, diphenylamino group, etc. );
A halogen atom (for example, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, etc.);
A fluorohydrocarbon group (for example, a fluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a pentafluoroethyl group, a pentafluorophenyl group, etc.);
A cyano group;
A nitro group;
A hydroxy group;
A thiol group;
Silyl group (for example, trimethylsilyl group, triisopropylsilyl group, triphenylsilyl group, phenyldiethylsilyl group, etc.);
Deuterium atom

  Among these, preferred groups include a linear or branched alkyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon ring group, an aromatic heterocyclic group, an amino group, a fluorine atom, a fluorinated hydrocarbon group, a cyano group, and a silyl group.

Ar ₁₀₁ and Ar ₁₀₂ each independently represents an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heteroaryl group. The aryl group in the “optionally substituted aryl group” is preferably a group derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon ring having 6 to 24 carbon atoms. Examples of such aromatic hydrocarbon rings include benzene ring, indene ring, naphthalene ring, azulene ring, fluorene ring, phenanthrene ring, anthracene ring, acenaphthylene ring, biphenylene ring, naphthacene ring, pyrene ring, pentalene ring, ASEAN Tolylene ring, heptalene ring, triphenylene ring, as-indacene ring, chrysene ring, s-indacene ring, preaden ring, phenalene ring, fluoranthene ring, perylene ring, acephenanthrylene ring, biphenyl ring, terphenyl ring, and Tetraphenyl ring and the like are included. Preferably, they are a benzene ring, a biphenyl ring, and a terphenyl ring.

  Moreover, the heteroaryl group in the “optionally substituted heteroaryl group” is preferably a group derived from various aromatic heterocycles. Examples of such aromatic heterocycles include pyrrole, indole, carbazole, indoloindole, 9,10-dihydroacridine, 5,10-dihydrophenazine, phenoxazine, phenothiazine, and dibenzothiophene. Ring, benzofurylindole ring, benzothienoindole ring, indolocarbazole ring, benzofurylcarbazole ring, benzothienocarbazole ring, benzothienobenzothiophene ring, benzocarbazole ring, dibenzocarbazole ring, azacarbazole ring, azadibenzofuran ring, dia Zacarbazole ring, diazadibenzofuran ring, dibenzothiophene oxide ring, dibenzothiophene dioxide ring, pyridine ring, pyridazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyrazine ring, triazine ring, quinoline ring, isoquinoline , Quinazoline ring, cinnoline ring, quinoxaline ring, phthalazine ring, a pteridine ring, a phenanthridine ring, a phenanthroline ring, a dibenzofuran ring, dibenzosilole ring, dibenzothiophene ball roll ring, dibenzophosphol hole oxide ring. A carbazole ring, a benzocarbazole ring, an azacarbazole ring, an azadibenzofuran ring, a diazacarbazole ring, a diazadibenzofuran ring, a pyridine ring, a pyrimidine ring, and a triazine ring are preferable.

Examples of the substituent that the aryl group or heteroaryl group may have include an aryl group which may be substituted with an alkyl group, a fluorine atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group which may be substituted with fluorine, An optionally substituted carbonyl group, an optionally substituted sulfonyl group, an optionally substituted phosphine oxide group, an optionally substituted boryl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted amino Group, an optionally substituted silyl group, and the like are included. The “alkyl group” may be any of linear, branched or cyclic, for example, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a cyclic alkyl group having 5 to 20 carbon atoms. It is possible. Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl Group, 2-ethylhexyl group, n-heptyl group, n-octyl group, 2-hexyloctyl group, n-nonyl group, n-decyl group, n-undecyl group, n-dodecyl group, n-tridecyl group, n- Tetradecyl group, n-pentadecyl group, n-hexadecyl group, n-heptadecyl group, n-octadecyl group, n-nonadecyl group, n-icosyl group and the like are included. The “aryl group” and “heterocyclic group” may be the same as the aryl group and heteroaryl group represented by Ar ₁₀₁ and Ar ₁₀₂ .

In the above general formula (I), n101 and n102, but each represents an integer of 0 to _4, when _{R 101} is a hydrogen atom, n101 represents an integer of 1-4.

一般式（II）において、Ｘ_１０１は、ＮＲ_１０１、酸素原子、硫黄原子、スルフィニル基、スルホニル基、ＣＲ_１０２Ｒ_１０３又はＳｉＲ_１０４Ｒ_１０５を表す。Ｒ_１０１〜Ｒ_１０５は、それぞれ独立して水素原子又は置換基を表し、互いに結合して環を形成してもよい。なお、Ｒ_１０１〜Ｒ_１０５は、一般式（Ｉ）のＲ_１０１〜Ｒ_１０５と同義である。 The host compound having a structure represented by the above general formula (I) more preferably has a structure represented by the following general formula (II).

In the general formula (II), X ₁₀₁ represents NR ₁₀₁ , an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a sulfinyl group, a sulfonyl group, CR ₁₀₂ R ₁₀₃ or SiR ₁₀₄ R ₁₀₅ . R _{101 to} R ₁₀₅ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring. _{Incidentally,} R 101 _{to R 105} have the same meanings as _R 101 _{to R 105} in formula (I).

Ar ₁₀₁ and _{Ar 102} are independently an optionally substituted aryl group, an heteroaryl group which may be _{substituted, Ar 101} and _{Ar 102} are _{Ar 101} and _{Ar 102} in Formula (I) It is synonymous with.

  N102 represents an integer of 0 to 4.

  Furthermore, the compound represented by the general formula (II) is preferably a compound represented by the following general formula (III-1), (III-2) or (III-3).

In the general formula (III-1) ~ (III -3), X 101, Ar 102, n102 have the same meanings as _{X 101,} Ar 102, n102 in the general formula (II). In the general formula _{(III-2), R 104} has the same meaning as _{R 104} in formula (I).
In general formulas (III-1) to (III-3), the condensed ring, carbazole ring and benzene ring formed containing X ₁₀₁ may further have a substituent as long as the function of the host compound is not inhibited. Good.

  Although the preferable specific example of the host compound represented by the said general formula (I), (II) or (III-1)-(III-3) is given, these compounds have a substituent further, There may be structural isomers and the like, and the present invention is not limited to this description.

《Electron transport layer》
In the present invention, the electron transport layer is made of a material having a function of transporting electrons, and may have a function of transmitting electrons injected from the cathode to the light emitting layer.
Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the total layer thickness of the electron carrying layer which concerns on this invention, Usually, it is the range of 2 nm-5 micrometers, More preferably, it is 2-500 nm, More preferably, it is 5-200 nm.
Further, in the organic EL element, when the light generated in the light emitting layer is extracted from the electrode, the light extracted directly from the light emitting layer interferes with the light extracted after being reflected by the electrode from which the light is extracted and the electrode located at the counter electrode. It is known to wake up. When light is reflected by the cathode, this interference effect can be efficiently utilized by appropriately adjusting the total thickness of the electron transport layer between several nanometers and several micrometers.
On the other hand, when the layer thickness of the electron transport layer is increased, the voltage is likely to increase. Therefore, particularly when the layer thickness is thick, the electron mobility of the electron transport layer is preferably 10 ⁻⁵ cm ² / Vs or more. .
The material used for the electron transport layer (hereinafter referred to as an electron transport material) may be any of electron injecting or transporting properties and hole blocking properties, and can be selected from conventionally known compounds. Can be selected and used.

  For example, nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic derivatives (carbazole derivatives, azacarbazole derivatives (one or more carbon atoms constituting the carbazole ring are substituted with nitrogen atoms), pyridine derivatives, pyrimidine derivatives, pyrazine derivatives, pyridazine derivatives, Triazine derivatives, quinoline derivatives, quinoxaline derivatives, phenanthroline derivatives, azatriphenylene derivatives, oxazole derivatives, thiazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, thiadiazole derivatives, triazole derivatives, benzimidazole derivatives, benzoxazole derivatives, benzthiazole derivatives, etc.), dibenzofuran derivatives, Dibenzothiophene derivatives, silole derivatives, aromatic hydrocarbon ring derivatives (naphthalene derivatives, anthracene derivatives, triphenylene derivatives, etc.) That.

In addition, a metal complex having a quinolinol skeleton or a dibenzoquinolinol skeleton as a ligand, for example, tris (8-quinolinol) aluminum (Alq), tris (5,7-dichloro-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5,7- Dibromo-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (2-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, bis (8-quinolinol) zinc (Znq) and the like, and their metal complexes A metal complex in which the central metal is replaced with In, Mg, Cu, Ca, Sn, Ga, or Pb can also be used as the electron transport material.
In addition, metal-free or metal phthalocyanine, or those having terminal ends substituted with an alkyl group or a sulfonic acid group can be preferably used as the electron transport material. In addition, the distyrylpyrazine derivative exemplified as the material of the light emitting layer can also be used as an electron transport material, and an inorganic semiconductor such as n-type-Si, n-type-SiC, etc. as in the case of the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer. Can also be used as an electron transporting material.
Further, a polymer material in which these materials are introduced into a polymer chain or these materials are used as a polymer main chain can also be used.

  In the electron transport layer according to the present invention, the electron transport layer may be doped with a doping material as a guest material to form an electron transport layer having a high n property (electron rich). Examples of the doping material include n-type dopants such as metal complexes and metal compounds such as metal halides. Specific examples of the electron transport layer having such a structure include, for example, JP-A-4-297076, JP-A-10-270172, JP-A-2000-196140, 2001-102175, J. Pat. Appl. Phys. , 95, 5773 (2004) and the like.

Specific examples of known preferable electron transport materials used in the organic EL device of the present invention include compounds described in the following documents, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
US Pat. No. 6,528,187, US Pat. No. 7,230,107, US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0025993, US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0036077, US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0115316, US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0101870, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0179554, International Publication No. 2003/060956, International Publication No. 2008/132805, Appl. Phys. Lett. 75, 4 (1999), Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 449 (2001), Appl. Phys. Lett. 81, 162 (2002), Appl. Phys. Lett. 81, 162 (2002), Appl. Phys. Lett. 79,156 (2001), US Patent No. 7964293, US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/030202, International Publication No. 2004/080975, International Publication No. 2004/063159, International Publication No. 2005/085387, International Publication No. Public Publication No. 2006/067931, International Publication No. 2007/086552, International Publication No. 2008/114690, International Publication No. 2009/066942, International Publication No. 2009/066779, International Publication No. 2009/054253, International Publication No. 2011/086935, International Publication No. 2010/150593, International Publication No. 2010/047707, European Patent No. 2311826, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-251675, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-209133, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-124114. issue JP, 2008-277810, JP 2006-156445, JP 2005-340122, JP 2003-45662, JP 2003-31367, JP 2003-282270, International Publication No. 2012/115034.

More preferable known electron transport materials in the present invention include aromatic heterocyclic compounds containing at least one nitrogen atom and compounds containing a phosphorus atom. For example, pyridine derivatives, pyrimidine derivatives, pyrazine derivatives, triazine derivatives, dibenzofurans. Derivatives, dibenzothiophene derivatives, azadibenzofuran derivatives, azadibenzothiophene derivatives, carbazole derivatives, azacarbazole derivatives, benzimidazole derivatives, arylphosphine oxide derivatives, and the like.
The electron transport material may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

《Hole blocking layer》
The hole blocking layer is a layer having a function of an electron transport layer in a broad sense, and is preferably made of a material having a function of transporting electrons while having a small ability to transport holes, and transporting electrons while transporting holes. The probability of recombination of electrons and holes can be improved by blocking.
Moreover, the structure of the electron carrying layer mentioned above can be used as a hole-blocking layer concerning this invention as needed.
The hole blocking layer provided in the organic EL device of the present invention is preferably provided adjacent to the cathode side of the light emitting layer.
The layer thickness of the hole blocking layer according to the present invention is preferably in the range of 3 to 100 nm, more preferably in the range of 5 to 30 nm.
As the material used for the hole blocking layer, the material used for the above-described electron transport layer is preferably used, and the material used as the above-described host compound is also preferably used for the hole blocking layer.

《Electron injection layer》
The electron injection layer (also referred to as “cathode buffer layer”) according to the present invention is a layer provided between the cathode and the light emitting layer in order to lower the driving voltage and improve the light emission luminance. It is described in detail in Chapter 2 “Electrode Materials” (pages 123 to 166) of the second edition of “The Forefront of Industrialization” (issued by NTT Corporation on November 30, 1998).
In the present invention, the electron injection layer may be provided as necessary, and may be present between the cathode and the light emitting layer or between the cathode and the electron transport layer as described above.
The electron injection layer is preferably a very thin film, and the layer thickness is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 5 nm, although it depends on the material. Moreover, the nonuniform layer (film | membrane) in which a constituent material exists intermittently may be sufficient.

The details of the electron injection layer are described in JP-A-6-325871, JP-A-9-17574, JP-A-10-74586, and the like. Specific examples of materials preferably used for the electron injection layer are as follows. , Metals typified by strontium and aluminum, alkali metal compounds typified by lithium fluoride, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, etc., alkaline earth metal compounds typified by magnesium fluoride, calcium fluoride, etc., oxidation Examples thereof include metal oxides typified by aluminum, metal complexes typified by 8-hydroxyquinolinate lithium (Liq), and the like. Further, the above-described electron transport material can also be used.
Moreover, the material used for said electron injection layer may be used independently, and may be used in combination of multiple types.

《Hole transport layer》
In the present invention, the hole transport layer is made of a material having a function of transporting holes and may have a function of transmitting holes injected from the anode to the light emitting layer.
Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the total layer thickness of the positive hole transport layer which concerns on this invention, Usually, it is the range of 5 nm-5 micrometers, More preferably, it is 2-500 nm, More preferably, it is 5-200 nm.
As a material used for the hole transport layer (hereinafter referred to as a hole transport material), any material that has either a hole injection property or a transport property or an electron barrier property may be used. Any one can be selected and used.
For example, porphyrin derivatives, phthalocyanine derivatives, oxazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, triazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives, pyrazolone derivatives, phenylenediamine derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, stilbene derivatives, polyarylalkane derivatives, triarylamine derivatives, carbazole derivatives , Indolocarbazole derivatives, isoindole derivatives, acene derivatives such as anthracene and naphthalene, fluorene derivatives, fluorenone derivatives, and polyvinyl carbazole, polymer materials or oligomers with aromatic amines introduced into the main chain or side chain, polysilane, conductive And polymer (for example, PEDOT / PSS, aniline copolymer, polyaniline, polythiophene, etc.).

Examples of the triarylamine derivative include benzidine type represented by α-NPD (4,4′-bis [N- (1-naphthyl) -N-phenylamino] biphenyl), starburst type represented by MTDATA, Examples include compounds having fluorene or anthracene in the triarylamine-linked core.
In addition, hexaazatriphenylene derivatives such as those described in JP-A-2003-519432 and JP-A-2006-135145 can also be used as the hole transport material.
Furthermore, a hole transport layer having a high p property doped with impurities can also be used. Examples thereof include JP-A-4-297076, JP-A-2000-196140, 2001-102175, J. Pat. Appl. Phys. 95, 5773 (2004), and the like.

JP-A-11-251067, J. Org. Huang et. al. It is also possible to use so-called p-type hole transport materials and inorganic compounds such as p-type-Si and p-type-SiC, as described in the literature (Applied Physics Letters 80 (2002), p. 139). Further, ortho-metalated organometallic complexes having Ir or Pt as the central metal represented by Ir (ppy) 3 are also preferably used.
Although the above-mentioned materials can be used as the hole transport material, a triarylamine derivative, a carbazole derivative, an indolocarbazole derivative, an azatriphenylene derivative, an organometallic complex, or an aromatic amine is introduced into the main chain or side chain. The polymer materials or oligomers used are preferably used.

Specific examples of known preferred hole transport materials used in the organic EL device of the present invention include the compounds described in the following documents in addition to the documents listed above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Not.
For example, Appl. Phys. Lett. 69, 2160 (1996), J. MoI. Lumin. 72-74,985 (1997), Appl. Phys. Lett. 78, 673 (2001), Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 183503 (2007), Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 183503 (2007), Appl. Phys. Lett. 51, 913 (1987), Synth. Met. 87, 171 (1997), Synth. Met. 91, 209 (1997), Synth. Met. 111, 421 (2000), SID Symposium Digest, 37, 923 (2006), J. Am. Mater. Chem. 3,319 (1993), Adv. Mater. 6, 677 (1994), Chem. Mater. 15, 3148 (2003), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0162053, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0158242, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0240279, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/2008. No. 0220265, U.S. Patent No. 5061569, International Publication No. 2007/002683, International Publication No. 2009/018009, EP650955, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0124572, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0278938. Specification, US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0106190, US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0018221, International Publication No. 2012/115034, Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication No. 2003-519432, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-135145 , It is a country patent application number 13/585981 issue like.
The hole transport material may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

《Electron blocking layer》
The electron blocking layer is a layer having a function of a hole transport layer in a broad sense, and is preferably made of a material having a function of transporting holes and a small ability to transport electrons, while transporting holes. By blocking electrons, the probability of recombination of electrons and holes can be improved.
Moreover, the structure of the positive hole transport layer mentioned above can be used as an electron blocking layer according to the present invention, if necessary.
The electron blocking layer provided in the organic EL device of the present invention is preferably provided adjacent to the anode side of the light emitting layer.
The layer thickness of the electron blocking layer according to the present invention is preferably in the range of 3 to 100 nm, and more preferably in the range of 5 to 30 nm.
As the material used for the electron blocking layer, the material used for the above-described hole transport layer is preferably used, and the above-mentioned host compound is also preferably used for the electron blocking layer.

《Hole injection layer》
The hole injection layer (also referred to as “anode buffer layer”) according to the present invention is a layer provided between the anode and the light emitting layer for the purpose of lowering the driving voltage and improving the light emission luminance. It is described in detail in Chapter 2 “Electrode Materials” (pages 123 to 166) of the second edition of “The Forefront of Industrialization” (issued by NTT Corporation on November 30, 1998).
In the present invention, the hole injection layer may be provided as necessary, and may be present between the anode and the light emitting layer or between the anode and the hole transport layer as described above.
The details of the hole injection layer are also described in JP-A-9-45479, JP-A-9-260062, JP-A-8-288069, etc. Examples of the material used for the hole injection layer include: Examples thereof include materials used for the above-described hole transport layer.
Among them, phthalocyanine derivatives typified by copper phthalocyanine, hexaazatriphenylene derivatives as described in JP-T-2003-519432 and JP-A-2006-135145, metal oxides typified by vanadium oxide, amorphous carbon Preferred are conductive polymers such as polyaniline (emeraldine) and polythiophene, orthometalated complexes represented by tris (2-phenylpyridine) iridium complex, and triarylamine derivatives.
The materials used for the hole injection layer described above may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

"Additive"
The organic layer in the present invention described above may further contain other additives.
Examples of the additive include halogen elements such as bromine, iodine and chlorine, halogenated compounds, alkali metals such as Pd, Ca and Na, alkaline earth metals, transition metal compounds, complexes, and salts.
The content of the additive can be arbitrarily determined, but is preferably 1000 ppm or less, more preferably 500 ppm or less, and further preferably 50 ppm or less with respect to the total mass% of the contained layer. .
However, it is not within this range depending on the purpose of improving the transportability of electrons and holes or the purpose of favoring the exciton energy transfer.

<Method for forming organic layer>
A method for forming an organic layer (hole injection layer, hole transport layer, light emitting layer, hole blocking layer, electron transport layer, electron injection layer, intermediate layer, etc.) according to the present invention will be described.
The method for forming the organic layer according to the present invention is not particularly limited, and a conventionally known method such as a vacuum deposition method or a wet method (also referred to as a wet process) can be used.
Examples of the wet method include spin coating, casting, ink jet, printing, die coating, blade coating, roll coating, spray coating, curtain coating, and LB (Langmuir-Blodgett). From the viewpoint of obtaining a homogeneous thin film easily and high productivity, a method with high roll-to-roll method suitability such as a die coating method, a roll coating method, an ink jet method and a spray coating method is preferable.

As a liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the organic EL material used in the present invention, for example, ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone and cyclohexanone, fatty acid esters such as ethyl acetate, halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichlorobenzene, toluene, xylene, Aromatic hydrocarbons such as mesitylene and cyclohexylbenzene, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, decalin, and dodecane, and organic solvents such as DMF and DMSO can be used.
Moreover, as a dispersion method, it can disperse | distribute by dispersion methods, such as an ultrasonic wave, high shear force dispersion | distribution, and media dispersion | distribution.
Further, different film forming methods may be applied for each layer. When a vapor deposition method is employed for film formation, the vapor deposition conditions vary depending on the type of compound used, but generally a boat heating temperature of 50 to 450 ° C., a vacuum degree of 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² Pa, and a vapor deposition rate of 0.01 to It is desirable to select appropriately within a range of 50 nm / second, a substrate temperature of −50 to 300 ° C., and a layer (film) thickness of 0.1 nm to 5 μm, preferably 5 to 200 nm.
The organic layer according to the present invention is preferably formed from the hole injection layer to the cathode consistently by a single evacuation, but it may be taken out halfway and subjected to different film formation methods. In that case, it is preferable to perform the work in a dry inert gas atmosphere.

"anode"
As the anode in the organic EL element, a material having a work function (4 eV or more, preferably 4.5 eV or more) of a metal, an alloy, an electrically conductive compound, or a mixture thereof is preferably used. Specific examples of such electrode substances include metals such as Au, and conductive transparent materials such as CuI, indium tin oxide (ITO), SnO ₂ , and ZnO. Alternatively, an amorphous material such as IDIXO (In ₂ O ₃ —ZnO) capable of forming a transparent conductive film may be used.
The anode may be formed by depositing a thin film of these electrode materials by vapor deposition or sputtering, and a pattern having a desired shape may be formed by photolithography, or when pattern accuracy is not so high (about 100 μm or more) A pattern may be formed through a mask having a desired shape at the time of vapor deposition or sputtering of the electrode material.
Or when using the substance which can be apply | coated like an organic electroconductivity compound, wet film-forming methods, such as a printing system and a coating system, can also be used. When light emission is extracted from the anode, it is desirable that the transmittance be greater than 10%, and the sheet resistance as the anode is preferably several hundred Ω / □ or less.
The film thickness of the anode depends on the material, but is usually selected within the range of 10 nm to 1 μm, preferably 10 to 200 nm.

"cathode"
As the cathode, a material having a work function (4 eV or less) metal (referred to as an electron injecting metal), an alloy, an electrically conductive compound, and a mixture thereof as an electrode material is used. Specific examples of such electrode materials include sodium, sodium-potassium alloy, magnesium, lithium, magnesium / copper mixture, magnesium / silver mixture, magnesium / aluminum mixture, magnesium / indium mixture, aluminum / aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) Mixtures, indium, lithium / aluminum mixtures, aluminum, rare earth metals and the like. Among these, from the point of durability against electron injection and oxidation, etc., a mixture of an electron injecting metal and a second metal which is a stable metal having a larger work function than this, for example, a magnesium / silver mixture, Magnesium / aluminum mixtures, magnesium / indium mixtures, aluminum / aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) mixtures, lithium / aluminum mixtures, aluminum and the like are preferred.

The cathode can be produced by forming a thin film of these electrode materials by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering. The sheet resistance as the cathode is preferably several hundred Ω / □ or less, and the film thickness is usually selected in the range of 10 nm to 5 μm, preferably 50 to 200 nm.
In order to transmit the emitted light, if either one of the anode or the cathode of the organic EL element is transparent or translucent, the emission luminance is advantageously improved.
Moreover, after producing the above metal with a film thickness of 1 to 20 nm on the cathode, a transparent or translucent cathode can be produced by producing a conductive transparent material mentioned in the description of the anode on the cathode. By applying the above, it is possible to manufacture a device in which both the anode and the cathode are transparent.

[Support substrate]
The support substrate (hereinafter also referred to as a substrate or a substrate) that can be used in the organic EL device of the present invention is not particularly limited in the type of glass, plastic and the like, and is transparent or opaque. May be. When extracting light from the support substrate side, the support substrate is preferably transparent. Examples of the transparent support substrate preferably used include glass, quartz, and a transparent resin film. A particularly preferable support substrate is a resin film capable of giving flexibility to the organic EL element.

  Examples of the resin film include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene, polypropylene, cellophane, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate (TAC), cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate ( CAP), cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose nitrate or derivatives thereof, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene vinyl alcohol, syndiotactic polystyrene, polycarbonate, norbornene resin, polymethylpentene, polyether ketone, polyimide , Polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfones, Cycloolefin resins such as polyetherimide, polyetherketoneimide, polyamide, fluororesin, nylon, polymethylmethacrylate, acrylic or polyarylate, Arton (trade name, manufactured by JSR) or Appel (trade name, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals) Can be mentioned.

An inorganic film, an organic film, or a hybrid film of both may be formed on the surface of the resin film, and the water vapor permeability (25 ± 0.5 ° C.) measured by a method according to JIS K 7129-1992. , Relative humidity (90 ± 2)% RH) is preferably 0.01 g / m ² · 24 h or less of a barrier film, and further, oxygen permeability measured by a method according to JIS K 7126-1987. However, it is preferable that the film has a high barrier property of 1 × 10 ⁻³ ml / m ² · 24 h · atm or less and a water vapor permeability of 1 × 10 ⁻⁵ g / m ² · 24 h or less.

As a material for forming the barrier film, any material may be used as long as it has a function of suppressing intrusion of elements that cause deterioration of elements such as moisture and oxygen. For example, silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, or the like can be used. Further, in order to improve the brittleness of the film, it is more preferable to have a laminated structure of these inorganic layers and organic material layers. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the lamination | stacking order of an inorganic layer and an organic layer, It is preferable to laminate | stack both alternately several times.
The method for forming the barrier film is not particularly limited. For example, vacuum deposition, sputtering, reactive sputtering, molecular beam epitaxy, cluster ion beam, ion plating, plasma polymerization, atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization A plasma CVD method, a laser CVD method, a thermal CVD method, a coating method, or the like can be used, but an atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization method as described in JP-A-2004-68143 is particularly preferable.

Examples of the opaque support substrate include metal plates such as aluminum and stainless steel, films, opaque resin substrates, and ceramic substrates.
The external extraction quantum efficiency at room temperature (25 ° C.) of light emission of the organic EL device of the present invention is preferably 1% or more, and more preferably 5% or more.
Here, the external extraction quantum efficiency (%) = the number of photons emitted to the outside of the organic EL element / the number of electrons sent to the organic EL element × 100.
In addition, a hue improvement filter such as a color filter may be used in combination, or a color conversion filter that converts the emission color from the organic EL element into multiple colors using a phosphor may be used in combination.

[Sealing]
Examples of the sealing means used for sealing the organic EL element of the present invention include a method of bonding a sealing member, an electrode, and a support substrate with an adhesive. As a sealing member, it should just be arrange | positioned so that the display area | region of an organic EL element may be covered, and it may be concave plate shape or flat plate shape. Moreover, transparency and electrical insulation are not particularly limited.
Specific examples include a glass plate, a polymer plate / film, and a metal plate / film. Examples of the glass plate include soda-lime glass, barium / strontium-containing glass, lead glass, aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, barium borosilicate glass, and quartz. Examples of the polymer plate include polycarbonate, acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate, polyether sulfide, and polysulfone. Examples of the metal plate include those made of one or more metals or alloys selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, iron, copper, aluminum, magnesium, nickel, zinc, chromium, titanium, molybdenum, silicon, germanium, and tantalum.

In the present invention, a polymer film and a metal film can be preferably used because the organic EL element can be thinned. Furthermore, the polymer film has an oxygen permeability measured by a method according to JIS K 7126-1987 of 1 × 10 ⁻³ ml / m ² · 24 h or less, and measured by a method according to JIS K 7129-1992. The water vapor permeability (25 ± 0.5 ° C., relative humidity 90 ± 2%) is preferably 1 × 10 ⁻³ g / m ² · 24 h or less.
For processing the sealing member into a concave shape, sandblasting, chemical etching, or the like is used.

Specific examples of the adhesive include photocuring and thermosetting adhesives having reactive vinyl groups such as acrylic acid oligomers and methacrylic acid oligomers, and moisture curing adhesives such as 2-cyanoacrylates. be able to. Moreover, heat | fever and chemical curing types (two-component mixing), such as an epoxy type, can be mentioned. Moreover, hot-melt type polyamide, polyester, and polyolefin can be mentioned. Moreover, a cationic curing type ultraviolet curing epoxy resin adhesive can be mentioned.
In addition, since an organic EL element may deteriorate by heat processing, what can be adhesive-hardened from room temperature to 80 degreeC is preferable. A desiccant may be dispersed in the adhesive. Application | coating of the adhesive agent to a sealing part may use commercially available dispenser, and may print like screen printing.

In addition, it is also preferable that the electrode and the organic layer are coated on the outside of the electrode facing the support substrate with the organic layer interposed therebetween, and an inorganic or organic layer is formed in contact with the support substrate to form a sealing film. . In this case, the material for forming the film may be any material that has a function of suppressing intrusion of elements that cause deterioration of elements such as moisture and oxygen. For example, silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, or the like may be used. it can.
Further, in order to improve the brittleness of the film, it is preferable to have a laminated structure of these inorganic layers and layers made of organic materials. There are no particular limitations on the method of forming these films. For example, vacuum deposition, sputtering, reactive sputtering, molecular beam epitaxy, cluster ion beam, ion plating, plasma polymerization, atmospheric pressure plasma A combination method, a plasma CVD method, a laser CVD method, a thermal CVD method, a coating method, or the like can be used.

In the gap between the sealing member and the display area of the organic EL element, an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon, or an inert liquid such as fluorinated hydrocarbon or silicon oil can be injected in the gas phase and liquid phase. preferable. A vacuum can also be used. Moreover, a hygroscopic compound can also be enclosed inside.
Examples of the hygroscopic compound include metal oxides (for example, sodium oxide, potassium oxide, calcium oxide, barium oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide) and sulfates (for example, sodium sulfate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, cobalt sulfate). Etc.), metal halides (eg calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, cesium fluoride, tantalum fluoride, cerium bromide, magnesium bromide, barium iodide, magnesium iodide etc.), perchloric acids (eg perchloric acid) Barium, magnesium perchlorate, and the like), and anhydrous salts are preferably used in sulfates, metal halides, and perchloric acids.

[Protective film, protective plate]
In order to increase the mechanical strength of the element, a protective film or a protective plate may be provided outside the sealing film or the sealing film on the side facing the support substrate with the organic layer interposed therebetween. In particular, when sealing is performed by the sealing film, the mechanical strength is not necessarily high, and thus it is preferable to provide such a protective film and a protective plate. As a material that can be used for this, the same glass plate, polymer plate / film, metal plate / film, etc. used for the sealing can be used, but the polymer film is light and thin. Is preferably used.

[Light extraction improvement technology]
An organic EL element emits light inside a layer having a refractive index higher than that of air (within a refractive index of about 1.6 to 2.1), and is about 15% to 20% of light generated in the light emitting layer. It is generally said that it can only be taken out. This is because light incident on the interface (interface between the transparent substrate and air) at an angle θ greater than the critical angle causes total reflection and cannot be taken out of the device, or between the transparent electrode or light emitting layer and the transparent substrate. This is because light is totally reflected between the light and the light is guided through the transparent electrode or the light emitting layer, and as a result, the light escapes in the direction of the side surface of the device.

  As a technique for improving the light extraction efficiency, for example, a method of forming irregularities on the surface of the transparent substrate to prevent total reflection at the transparent substrate and the air interface (for example, US Pat. No. 4,774,435), A method for improving efficiency by providing light condensing property (for example, JP-A-63-314795), a method for forming a reflective surface on a side surface of an element (for example, JP-A-1-220394), a substrate, etc. A method of forming an antireflection film by introducing a flat layer having an intermediate refractive index between the substrate and the light emitter (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-172691), lower refraction than the substrate between the substrate and the light emitter A method of introducing a flat layer having a refractive index (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-202827), and a method of forming a diffraction grating between any one of the substrate, the transparent electrode layer and the light emitting layer (including between the substrate and the outside world) ( JP-A-11 No. 283,751 Publication), and the like.

In the present invention, these methods can be used in combination with the organic EL device of the present invention. However, a method of introducing a flat layer having a lower refractive index than the substrate between the substrate and the light emitter, or a substrate, transparent A method of forming a diffraction grating between any layers of the electrode layer and the light emitting layer (including between the substrate and the outside) can be suitably used.
In the present invention, by combining these means, it is possible to obtain an element having higher luminance or durability.

When a low refractive index medium is formed between the transparent electrode and the transparent substrate with a thickness longer than the wavelength of light, the light extracted from the transparent electrode has a higher extraction efficiency to the outside as the refractive index of the medium is lower. Become.
Examples of the low refractive index layer include aerogel, porous silica, magnesium fluoride, and a fluorine-based polymer. Since the refractive index of the transparent substrate is generally in the range of about 1.5 to 1.7, the low refractive index layer preferably has a refractive index of about 1.5 or less. Furthermore, it is preferable that it is 1.35 or less.
The thickness of the low refractive index medium is preferably at least twice the wavelength in the medium. This is because the effect of the low refractive index layer is diminished when the thickness of the low refractive index medium is about the wavelength of light and the electromagnetic wave exuded by evanescent enters the substrate.

  The method of introducing a diffraction grating into an interface that causes total reflection or in any medium has a feature that the effect of improving the light extraction efficiency is high. This method uses the property that the diffraction grating can change the direction of light to a specific direction different from refraction by so-called Bragg diffraction, such as first-order diffraction or second-order diffraction. The light that cannot be emitted due to total internal reflection between layers is diffracted by introducing a diffraction grating into any layer or medium (in the transparent substrate or transparent electrode). , Trying to extract light out.

The introduced diffraction grating desirably has a two-dimensional periodic refractive index. This is because light emitted from the light-emitting layer is randomly generated in all directions, so in a general one-dimensional diffraction grating having a periodic refractive index distribution only in a certain direction, only light traveling in a specific direction is diffracted. The light extraction efficiency does not increase so much.
However, by making the refractive index distribution a two-dimensional distribution, light traveling in all directions is diffracted, and light extraction efficiency is increased.
The position where the diffraction grating is introduced may be in any of the layers or in the medium (in the transparent substrate or the transparent electrode), but is preferably in the vicinity of the organic light emitting layer where light is generated. At this time, the period of the diffraction grating is preferably within a range of about 1/2 to 3 times the wavelength of light in the medium. The arrangement of the diffraction gratings is preferably two-dimensionally repeated, such as a square lattice, a triangular lattice, or a honeycomb lattice.

[Condenser sheet]
The organic EL device of the present invention is front-facing to a specific direction, for example, the light emitting surface of the device by combining a so-called condensing sheet, for example, by providing a structure on the microlens array on the light extraction side of the support substrate (substrate). By condensing in the direction, the luminance in a specific direction can be increased.
As an example of the microlens array, quadrangular pyramids having a side of 30 μm and an apex angle of 90 degrees are arranged two-dimensionally on the light extraction side of the substrate. One side is preferably within a range of 10 to 100 μm. If it becomes smaller than this, the effect of diffraction will generate | occur | produce and color, and if too large, thickness will become thick and is not preferable.
As the condensing sheet, for example, a sheet that is put into practical use in an LED backlight of a liquid crystal display device can be used. As such a sheet, for example, a brightness enhancement film (BEF) manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited can be used. As the shape of the prism sheet, for example, the base material may be formed by forming a △ -shaped stripe having a vertex angle of 90 degrees and a pitch of 50 μm, or the vertex angle is rounded and the pitch is changed randomly. Other shapes may be used.
Moreover, in order to control the light emission angle from an organic EL element, you may use a light-diffusion plate and a film together with a condensing sheet. For example, a diffusion film (light-up) manufactured by Kimoto Co., Ltd. can be used.

[Usage]
The organic EL element of the present invention can be used as an electronic device such as a display device, a display, and various light emitting devices.
Examples of light emitting devices include lighting devices (home lighting, interior lighting), clocks and backlights for liquid crystals, billboard advertisements, traffic lights, light sources of optical storage media, light sources of electrophotographic copying machines, light sources of optical communication processors, light Although the light source of a sensor etc. are mentioned, It is not limited to this, Especially, it can use effectively for the use as a backlight of a liquid crystal display device, and a light source for illumination.
In the organic EL element of the present invention, patterning may be performed by a metal mask, an ink jet printing method, or the like as needed during film formation. In the case of patterning, only the electrode may be patterned, the electrode and the light emitting layer may be patterned, or the entire layer of the device may be patterned. Can do.

<Display device>
The display device including the organic EL element of the present invention may be single color or multicolor, but here, the multicolor display device will be described.

In the case of a multicolor display device, a shadow mask is provided only at the time of forming a light emitting layer, and a film can be formed on one surface by vapor deposition, casting, spin coating, ink jet, printing, or the like.
In the case of patterning only the light emitting layer, there is no limitation on the method, but a vapor deposition method, an inkjet method, a spin coating method, and a printing method are preferable.

  The configuration of the organic EL element provided in the display device is selected from the above-described configuration examples of the organic EL element as necessary.

  Moreover, the manufacturing method of an organic EL element is as having shown to the one aspect | mode of manufacture of the organic EL element of said invention.

  When a DC voltage is applied to the multicolor display device thus obtained, light emission can be observed by applying a voltage of about 2 to 40 V with the positive polarity of the anode and the negative polarity of the cathode. Further, even when a voltage is applied with the opposite polarity, no current flows and no light emission occurs. Further, when an AC voltage is applied, light is emitted only when the anode is in the + state and the cathode is in the-state. The alternating current waveform to be applied may be arbitrary.

  The multicolor display device can be used as a display device, a display, or various light emission sources. In a display device or display, full-color display is possible by using three types of organic EL elements of blue, red, and green light emission.

  Examples of the display device or display include a television, a personal computer, a mobile device, an AV device, a character broadcast display, and an information display in an automobile. In particular, it may be used as a display device for reproducing still images and moving images, and the driving method when used as a display device for reproducing moving images may be either a simple matrix (passive matrix) method or an active matrix method.

  Light-emitting devices include household lighting, interior lighting, clock and liquid crystal backlights, billboard advertisements, traffic lights, optical storage media light sources, electrophotographic copying machine light sources, optical communication processor light sources, optical sensor light sources, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to these.

Hereinafter, an example of a display device having the organic EL element of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of a display device composed of organic EL elements. It is a schematic diagram of a display such as a mobile phone that displays image information by light emission of an organic EL element.

The display 1 includes a display unit A having a plurality of pixels, a control unit B that performs image scanning of the display unit A based on image information, a wiring unit C that electrically connects the display unit A and the control unit B, and the like.
The control unit B is electrically connected to the display unit A via the wiring unit C, and sends a scanning signal and an image data signal to each of a plurality of pixels based on image information from the outside. Sequentially emit light according to the image data signal, scan the image, and display the image information on the display unit A.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a display device using an active matrix method.
The display unit A includes a wiring unit C including a plurality of scanning lines 5 and data lines 6, a plurality of pixels 3 and the like on a substrate. The main members of the display unit A will be described below.
FIG. 6 shows a case where the light emitted from the pixel 3 is extracted in the direction of the white arrow (downward).

The scanning line 5 and the plurality of data lines 6 in the wiring portion are each made of a conductive material, and the scanning lines 5 and the data lines 6 are orthogonal to each other in a grid pattern and are connected to the pixels 3 at the orthogonal positions (details are illustrated). Not)
When a scanning signal is applied from the scanning line 5, the pixel 3 receives an image data signal from the data line 6 and emits light according to the received image data.
Full-color display is possible by appropriately arranging pixels in the red region, the green region, and the blue region on the same substrate.

Next, the light emission process of the pixel will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a pixel circuit.
The pixel includes an organic EL element 10, a switching transistor 11, a driving transistor 12, a capacitor 13, and the like. A full color display can be performed by using red, green, and blue light emitting organic EL elements as the organic EL elements 10 in a plurality of pixels, and juxtaposing them on the same substrate.

  In FIG. 7, an image data signal is applied from the control unit B to the drain of the switching transistor 11 through the data line 6. When a scanning signal is applied from the control unit B to the gate of the switching transistor 11 via the scanning line 5, the driving of the switching transistor 11 is turned on, and the image data signal applied to the drain is supplied to the capacitor 13 and the driving transistor 12. Is transmitted to the gate.

  By transmitting the image data signal, the capacitor 13 is charged according to the potential of the image data signal, and the drive of the drive transistor 12 is turned on. The drive transistor 12 has a drain connected to the power supply line 7 and a source connected to the electrode of the organic EL element 10, and the power supply line 7 connects to the organic EL element 10 according to the potential of the image data signal applied to the gate. Current is supplied.

When the scanning signal is moved to the next scanning line 5 by the sequential scanning of the control unit B, the driving of the switching transistor 11 is turned off. However, since the capacitor 13 holds the charged potential of the image data signal even if the driving of the switching transistor 11 is turned off, the driving of the driving transistor 12 is kept on and the next scanning signal is applied. Until then, the light emission of the organic EL element 10 continues. When the scanning signal is next applied by sequential scanning, the driving transistor 12 is driven according to the potential of the next image data signal synchronized with the scanning signal, and the organic EL element 10 emits light.
That is, the organic EL element 10 emits light by the switching transistor 11 and the drive transistor 12 that are active elements for the organic EL element 10 of each of the plurality of pixels, and the light emission of the organic EL element 10 of each of the plurality of pixels 3. It is carried out. Such a light emitting method is called an active matrix method.

Here, the light emission of the organic EL element 10 may be light emission of a plurality of gradations by a multi-value image data signal having a plurality of gradation potentials, or by turning on / off a predetermined light emission amount by a binary image data signal. Good. The potential of the capacitor 13 may be held continuously until the next scanning signal is applied, or may be discharged immediately before the next scanning signal is applied.
In the present invention, not only the active matrix method described above, but also a passive matrix light emission drive in which the organic EL element emits light according to the data signal only when the scanning signal is scanned.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a passive matrix display device. In FIG. 8, a plurality of scanning lines 5 and a plurality of image data lines 6 are provided in a lattice shape so as to face each other with the pixel 3 interposed therebetween.
When the scanning signal of the scanning line 5 is applied by sequential scanning, the pixels 3 connected to the applied scanning line 5 emit light according to the image data signal.
In the passive matrix system, the pixel 3 has no active element, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
By using the organic EL element of the present invention, a display device with improved luminous efficiency was obtained.

<Lighting device>
The organic EL element of the present invention can also be used for a lighting device.
The organic EL element of the present invention may be used as an organic EL element having a resonator structure. Examples of the purpose of use of the organic EL element having such a resonator structure include a light source of an optical storage medium, a light source of an electrophotographic copying machine, a light source of an optical communication processing machine, and a light source of an optical sensor. It is not limited. Moreover, you may use for the said use by making a laser oscillation.
Further, the organic EL element of the present invention may be used as a kind of lamp for illumination or exposure light source, a projection device for projecting an image, or a type for directly viewing a still image or a moving image. It may be used as a display device (display).
The driving method when used as a display device for reproducing a moving image may be either a passive matrix method or an active matrix method. Alternatively, it is possible to produce a full-color display device by using two or more organic EL elements of the present invention having different emission colors.

  In addition, the π-conjugated compound used in the present invention can be applied to a lighting device including an organic EL element that emits substantially white light. For example, when a plurality of light emitting materials are used, white light emission can be obtained by simultaneously emitting a plurality of light emission colors and mixing the colors. The combination of a plurality of emission colors may include three emission maximum wavelengths of three primary colors of red, green, and blue, or two of the complementary colors such as blue and yellow, blue green and orange, etc. The thing containing the light emission maximum wavelength may be used.

In addition, the organic EL device forming method of the present invention may be simply arranged by providing a mask only when forming a light emitting layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, or the like, and separately coating with the mask. Since the other layers are common, patterning of a mask or the like is unnecessary, and for example, an electrode film can be formed on one surface by a vapor deposition method, a cast method, a spin coating method, an ink jet method, a printing method, or the like, and productivity is improved.
According to this method, unlike a white organic EL device in which light emitting elements of a plurality of colors are arranged in parallel in an array, the elements themselves emit white light.

[One Embodiment of Lighting Device of the Present Invention]
One aspect of the lighting device of the present invention that includes the organic EL element of the present invention will be described.
The non-light emitting surface of the organic EL device of the present invention is covered with a glass case, a 300 μm thick glass substrate is used as a sealing substrate, and an epoxy photocurable adhesive (LUX The track LC0629B) is applied, and this is overlaid on the cathode and brought into close contact with the transparent support substrate, irradiated with UV light from the glass substrate side, cured, sealed, and illuminated as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. A device can be formed.
FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of a lighting device, and the organic EL element (organic EL element 101 in the lighting device) of the present invention is covered with a glass cover 102 (note that the sealing operation with the glass cover is performed by lighting. This was performed in a glove box under a nitrogen atmosphere (in an atmosphere of high-purity nitrogen gas having a purity of 99.999% or more) without bringing the organic EL element 101 in the apparatus into contact with the air.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting device, 105 is a cathode, 106 is an organic layer, and 107 is a glass substrate with a transparent electrode. The glass cover 102 is filled with nitrogen gas 108 and a water catching agent 109 is provided.
By using the organic EL element of the present invention, a lighting device with improved luminous efficiency can be obtained.

<Light emitting material>
The π-conjugated compound of the present invention can emit fluorescence by electric field excitation or the like. Therefore, it can be used as various luminescent materials. In addition to the π-conjugated compound, the light emitting material may contain other components as necessary. Further, the light emitting material may be used in a powder form or may be used after being processed into a desired shape. The luminescent material can be applied to, for example, a material for forming a luminescent thin film described later, a fluorescent paint, and a bioimaging fluorescent dye.

Further, if the absolute value of Delta] E _ST of [pi conjugated compound is less than 0.50eV, π-conjugated compounds, and can radiate delayed fluorescence, such compounds can be applied to bio-imaging fluorescent dyes Can do. Furthermore, since delayed fluorescence is known to be quenched by oxygen, it can also be applied to oxygen sensing materials.

<Luminescent thin film>
The luminescent thin film according to the present invention contains the above-described π-conjugated compound according to the present invention, and can be produced in the same manner as the method for forming the organic layer.
The light-emitting thin film of the present invention can be produced in the same manner as the method for forming the organic layer.

The method for forming the light-emitting thin film of the present invention is not particularly limited, and conventionally known methods such as a vacuum deposition method and a wet method (also referred to as a wet process) can be used.
Examples of the wet method include spin coating, casting, ink jet, printing, die coating, blade coating, roll coating, spray coating, curtain coating, and LB (Langmuir-Blodgett). From the viewpoint of obtaining a homogeneous thin film easily and high productivity, a method with high roll-to-roll method suitability such as a die coating method, a roll coating method, an ink jet method and a spray coating method is preferable.

  Examples of the liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the light emitting material used in the present invention include ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone and cyclohexanone, fatty acid esters such as ethyl acetate, halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichlorobenzene, toluene, xylene, and mesitylene. Aromatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexylbenzene, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, decalin, and dodecane, and organic solvents such as DMF and DMSO can be used.

Moreover, as a dispersion method, it can disperse | distribute by dispersion methods, such as an ultrasonic wave, high shear force dispersion | distribution, and media dispersion | distribution.
Further, different film forming methods may be applied for each layer. When a vapor deposition method is employed for film formation, the vapor deposition conditions vary depending on the type of compound used, but generally the boat heating temperature is in the range of 50 to 450 ° C., and the degree of vacuum is in the range of 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² Pa. Of these, the deposition rate is appropriately selected within the range of 0.01 to 50 nm / second, the substrate temperature within the range of −50 to 300 ° C., the layer thickness within the range of 0.1 nm to 5 μm, and preferably within the range of 5 to 200 nm. desirable.
When a spin coat method is employed for film formation, it is preferable to perform the spin coater within a range of 100 to 1000 rpm and within a range of 10 to 120 seconds in a dry inert gas atmosphere.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, although the display of "%" is used in an Example, unless otherwise indicated, "mass%" is represented.

The compounds used in Examples and Comparative Examples are shown below.

(Synthesis of Compound A-3)
International Publication No. 2010/113755, Organic Letters, 2002, 4, 1783-1785. , Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 2014-2017. Compound A-3 was synthesized using the method described in 1). Specifically, 1-bromo-3,4-difluorobenzene and carbazole were subjected to a nucleophilic substitution reaction to obtain a 1-bromo-3,4-dicarbazole intermediate.
A crude product of compound A-3 was obtained by reacting 1-bromo-3,4-dicarbazolylbenzene intermediate with 4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole in the presence of a palladium catalyst. Thereafter, column chromatography, recrystallization, and sublimation purification were performed to obtain a high-purity product of Compound A-3.

(Synthesis of other compounds)
Compounds A-22, A-25, A-29, A-33, A-37, A-41, A-63 and A-64 were synthesized in the same manner as described above.

The resulting compound and Delta] E _ST of comparative compounds 1 to 4, was calculated in the following manner.

(Calculation of ΔE _ST)
The structure optimization and calculation of the electron density distribution by molecular orbital calculation of the compound were calculated using molecular orbital calculation software using B3LYP as a functional and 6-31G (d) as a basis function. As molecular orbital calculation software, Gaussian 09 (Revision C.01, MJ Frisch, et al, Gaussian, Inc., 2010.) manufactured by Gaussian, USA was used.
From the structure optimization calculation using B3LYP as the functional and 6-31G (d) as the basis function, the excited state calculation by the time-dependent density functional method (Time-Dependent DFT) is further performed to perform S ₁ , T ₁ the energy level (respectively _{E (S 1), E (} T 1)) of seeking _{ΔE ST = | E (S 1} ) -E (T 1) | is calculated as.

[Example 1]
(Preparation of organic EL element 1-1)
A transparent substrate with an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film having a thickness of 150 nm formed on a glass substrate of 50 mm × 50 mm and a thickness of 0.7 mm, patterned, and this ITO transparent electrode was attached After ultrasonic cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, drying with dry nitrogen gas and UV ozone cleaning for 5 minutes, this transparent substrate was fixed to a substrate holder of a commercially available vacuum deposition apparatus.
Each of the vapor deposition crucibles in the vacuum vapor deposition apparatus was filled with the constituent material of each layer in an amount optimal for device fabrication. The evaporation crucible used was made of a resistance heating material made of molybdenum or tungsten.

After depressurizing to a vacuum of 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, energizing and heating the evaporation crucible containing HAT-CN (1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylenehexacarbonitrile) Vapor deposition was performed on the ITO transparent electrode at a speed of 0.1 nm / second to form a hole injection transport layer having a layer thickness of 10 nm.
Subsequently, α-NPD (4,4′-bis [N- (1-naphthyl) -N-phenylamino] biphenyl) was deposited on the hole injection layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second, and the layer thickness was 40 nm. The hole transport layer was formed. Host compound H-232 and comparative compound 1 were co-deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second so as to be 94% and 6% by volume, respectively, to form a light emitting layer having a layer thickness of 30 nm.
Thereafter, BCP (2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) was deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form an electron transport layer having a layer thickness of 30 nm.
Furthermore, after forming lithium fluoride with a film thickness of 0.5 nm, 100 nm of aluminum was vapor-deposited to form a cathode.
The non-light-emitting surface side of the above element was covered with a can-shaped glass case in an atmosphere of high purity nitrogen gas having a purity of 99.999% or more, and an electrode lead-out wiring was installed to prepare an organic EL element 1-1.

(Preparation of organic EL elements 1-2 to 1-13)
Organic EL elements 1-2 to 1-13 were produced in the same manner as the organic EL element 1-1 except that the luminescent compound was changed from the comparative compound 1 as shown in Table 1.

[Example 2]
(Preparation of organic EL element 2-1)
Transparent support provided with this ITO transparent electrode after patterning on a substrate (NH45 manufactured by NH Techno Glass Co., Ltd.) formed by depositing 100 nm of ITO (indium tin oxide) on a glass substrate of 100 mm × 100 mm × 1.1 mm as an anode The substrate was ultrasonically cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, dried with dry nitrogen gas, and subjected to UV ozone cleaning for 5 minutes.
On this transparent support substrate, using a solution obtained by diluting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) -polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT / PSS, Bayer, Baytron P Al 4083) to 70% with pure water, 3000 rpm, A thin film was formed by spin coating under conditions of 30 seconds, and then dried at 200 ° C. for 1 hour to provide a hole injection layer having a layer thickness of 20 nm. This transparent support substrate was fixed to a substrate holder of a commercially available vacuum vapor deposition apparatus, and each of the vapor deposition crucibles in the vacuum vapor deposition apparatus was filled with a constituent material of each layer in an amount optimal for device fabrication. The evaporation crucible used was made of a resistance heating material made of molybdenum or tungsten.

After reducing the pressure to 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, α-NPD was deposited on the hole injection layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form a hole transport layer having a layer thickness of 40 nm. H-234, 2,5,8,11-tetra-t-butylperylene was co-deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second so that the volume percent was 97% and 3%, respectively, and the emission was 30 nm. A layer was formed.
Thereafter, TPBi (1,3,5-tris (N-phenylbenzimidazol-2-yl)) was deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form an electron transport layer having a layer thickness of 30 nm.
Furthermore, after forming sodium fluoride with a film thickness of 1 nm, 100 nm of aluminum was vapor-deposited to form a cathode.
The non-light-emitting surface side of the above element was covered with a can-shaped glass case in an atmosphere of high purity nitrogen gas having a purity of 99.999% or more, and an electrode lead-out wiring was installed to prepare an organic EL element 2-1.

(Preparation of organic EL element 2-2)
Using H-234 as the host compound, 2,5,8,11-tetra-t-butylperylene as the luminescent compound, and Comparative Compound 1 as the third component, the respective proportions were 82%, 3%, and 15% in volume. An organic EL element 2-2 was produced in the same manner as the production of the organic EL element 2-1, except that the light emitting layer was formed so as to be%.

(Production of organic EL elements 2-3 to 2-12)
As shown in Table 2, organic EL elements 2-3 to 2-12 were produced in the same manner as the organic EL element 2-2 except that the third component was changed.

[Example 3]
(Preparation of organic EL element 3-1)
A transparent substrate with an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film formed at a thickness of 150 nm as a positive electrode on a glass substrate of 50 mm × 50 mm and a thickness of 0.7 mm, patterned, and then attached with this ITO transparent electrode After ultrasonic cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, drying with dry nitrogen gas and UV ozone cleaning for 5 minutes, this transparent substrate was fixed to a substrate holder of a commercially available vacuum deposition apparatus.

  Each of the resistance heating boats for vapor deposition in the vacuum vapor deposition apparatus was filled with the constituent material of each layer in an amount optimal for device fabrication. The resistance heating boat was made of molybdenum or tungsten.

After reducing the vacuum to 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, the resistance heating boat containing HI-1 was energized and heated, and deposited on the ITO transparent electrode at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second. A hole injection layer was formed.

  Next, α-NPD (4,4′-bis [N- (1-naphthyl) -N-phenylamino] biphenyl) is deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form a hole transport layer having a layer thickness of 30 nm. did.

  Next, the resistance heating boat containing comparative compound 1 and GD-1 as comparative host compounds was energized and heated, and deposited on the hole transport layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second and 0.010 nm / second, respectively. Co-evaporation was performed to form a light emitting layer having a layer thickness of 40 nm.

  Subsequently, HB-1 was deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form a first electron transport layer having a layer thickness of 5 nm.

  Further thereon, ET-1 was deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form a second electron transport layer having a layer thickness of 45 nm.

  Then, after vapor-depositing lithium fluoride so that it might become 0.5 nm in thickness, 100 nm of aluminum was vapor-deposited, the cathode was formed, and the organic EL element 3-1 was produced.

(Production of organic EL elements 3-2 to 3-11)
Organic EL devices 3-2 to 3-11 were produced in the same manner as the organic EL device 3-1, except that the host compound was changed from the comparative compound 1 as shown in Table 3.

(Measurement of luminous efficiency)
The luminous efficiency of each sample when driving the organic EL element was evaluated by performing the following measurements.

(Measurement of relative luminous efficiency)
Each of the produced organic EL elements was allowed to emit light at room temperature (about 25 ° C.) under a constant current condition of ^2.5 mA / cm ² , and the emission luminance immediately after the start of emission was measured using a spectral radiance meter CS-2000 (Konica Minolta). The measurement was performed using
Tables 1 to 3 show the relative values of the obtained emission luminance (relative value with respect to the emission luminance of the organic EL element 1-1 in Example 1, relative value with respect to the emission luminance of the organic EL element 2-1 in Example 2, Example 3 shows the relative value with respect to the light emission luminance of the organic EL element 3-1.

From these results, the electron-withdrawing group A ¹ having an aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton represented by the general formula (1), the para-position of the electron-withdrawing group A ¹ , and at least one of the adjacent positions It is clear that the π-conjugated compound of the present invention having an electron donating group has higher relative luminous efficiency than the comparative compound. Further, the π-conjugated compound (compound A-29) of the present invention represented by the general formula (2) having an electron-withdrawing group A ¹ and an electron-donating group on both sides thereof is more general formula. The relative luminous efficiency is higher than that of the π-conjugated compound represented by (1) (compounds A-3, A-22, A-25), and Z ² and Z ^{3 on both} sides of the electron-withdrawing group A ¹ are hydrogen atoms. The π-conjugated compounds represented by general formula (3) (compounds A-33, A-37, and A-41) had higher relative luminous efficiency.

[Example 4]
(Preparation of organic EL element 4-1)
A transparent substrate with an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film formed at a thickness of 150 nm as a positive electrode on a glass substrate of 50 mm × 50 mm and a thickness of 0.7 mm, patterned, and then attached with this ITO transparent electrode After ultrasonic cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, drying with dry nitrogen gas and UV ozone cleaning for 5 minutes, this transparent substrate was fixed to a substrate holder of a commercially available vacuum deposition apparatus.

  Each of the resistance heating boats for vapor deposition in the vacuum vapor deposition apparatus was filled with the constituent material of each layer in an amount optimal for device fabrication. The resistance heating boat was made of molybdenum or tungsten.

After depressurizing to a vacuum degree of 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, the resistance heating boat containing α-NPD (4,4′-bis [N- (1-naphthyl) -N-phenylamino] biphenyl) is energized and heated. Then, vapor deposition was performed on the ITO transparent electrode at a vapor deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form a hole injection layer having a layer thickness of 30 nm.

  Next, TCTA (tris (4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl) amine) was deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form a first hole transport layer having a layer thickness of 20 nm.

  Next, H-233 was deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form a second hole transport layer having a layer thickness of 10 nm.

  Next, the resistance heating boat containing comparative compound 1 as a comparative host compound and TBPe (2,5,8,11-tetra-tert-butylperylene) was energized and heated, and the deposition rate was 0.1 nm / second, respectively. Co-deposited on the hole transport layer at 0.010 nm / second to form a light emitting layer having a layer thickness of 20 nm.

  Subsequently, H-232 was deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to form a first electron transport layer having a layer thickness of 10 nm.

  Further thereon, TBPI (1,3,5-tris (1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) benzene) was deposited at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second, and the second electron transport having a layer thickness of 30 m was performed. A layer was formed.

  Then, after vapor-depositing lithium fluoride so that it may become 0.5 nm in thickness, 100 nm of aluminum was vapor-deposited, the cathode was formed, and the organic EL element 4-1 was produced.

(Production of organic EL elements 4-2 to 4-8)
Organic EL elements 4-2 to 4-8 were produced in the same manner as the organic EL element 4-1, except that the host compound was changed from the comparative compound 1 as shown in Table 4.

  In any case of the organic EL element 4, the material of the present application showed higher luminous efficiency than the comparative compound.

[Example 5]
The luminance half time when the organic EL element 1-9 of Example 1 was lit at an initial luminance of 300 cd / m ² was measured.

(Preparation of organic EL elements 5-1 to 5-9)
Organic EL devices 5-1 to 5-9 were produced from device 1-13 of Example 1 in the same manner as organic EL device 1-13, except that the host compound and the luminescent compound were changed as shown in Table 5. did.

  In the organic EL element 5, when the host compound was a compound represented by the above general formula (I), it had a particularly long relative luminance half-life. Further, when the luminescent compound was the compound represented by the above general formula (3) (Compound A-41), it had a long relative luminance half-life.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the new (pi) conjugated compound which can improve the luminous efficiency of an organic electroluminescent element can be provided, for example. In addition, an organic electroluminescent element material, a light-emitting thin film, a luminescent material, an organic electroluminescent element, and a display device and a lighting device including the organic electroluminescent element using the π-conjugated compound can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display 3 Pixel 5 Scan line 6 Data line 7 Power supply line 10 Organic EL element 11 Switching transistor 12 Drive transistor 13 Capacitor 101 Organic EL element in a lighting device 102 Glass cover 105 Cathode 106 Organic layer 107 Glass substrate 108 with transparent electrode 108 Nitrogen gas 109 Water trapping agent A Display part B Control part C Wiring part

Claims (21)

A π-conjugated compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (1).

(In general formula (1),
A ¹ represents an electron-withdrawing group having an optionally substituted aromatic hetero 5-membered ring skeleton,
D ¹ and D ² each independently represents an electron donating group,
Z ^{1 to} Z ³ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a deuterium atom, an electron donating group or an electron withdrawing group,
The electron donating group represented by D ¹ and D ² and Z ^{1 to} Z ³ includes an aryl group substituted with an electron donating group, an optionally substituted electron donating heterocyclic group, and a substituted group. An amino group that may be present, and a group selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups,
The electron-withdrawing group represented by Z ^{1 to} Z ³ is a fluorine atom, an alkyl group substituted with a fluorine atom, an optionally substituted carbonyl group, an optionally substituted sulfonyl group, or a substituted atom. Selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted phosphine oxide group, an optionally substituted boryl group, an aryl group optionally substituted with an electron-withdrawing group, and an optionally substituted electron-withdrawing heterocyclic group. It is a group. ) 2. The π-conjugated compound according to claim 1, wherein in the general formula (1), Z ¹ represents the electron donating group. ^3. The π-conjugated compound according to claim 1, wherein in the general formula (1), Z ¹ represents the electron donating group, and Z ² and Z ³ represent a hydrogen atom.   The π-conjugated compound according to claim 1, wherein the aromatic heterocyclic 5-membered ring skeleton includes a nitrogen atom. Absolute value Delta] E _ST of the energy difference between the lowest excited singlet state and the lowest excited triplet level is below 0.50eV, π-conjugated compound according to any one of claims 1-4.   Organic electroluminescent element material containing the (pi) conjugated compound as described in any one of Claims 1-5.   A luminescent material comprising the π-conjugated compound according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the π-conjugated compound emits fluorescence.   The luminescent material according to claim 7, wherein the π-conjugated compound emits delayed fluorescence.   The luminescent thin film containing the (pi) conjugated compound as described in any one of Claims 1-5.   The luminescent thin film according to claim 9, wherein the π-conjugated compound emits delayed fluorescence. An anode, a cathode, and a light emitting layer provided between the anode and the cathode,
The organic electroluminescent element in which at least one layer of the said light emitting layer contains the (pi) conjugated compound as described in any one of Claims 1-5.   The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 11, wherein the π-conjugated compound generates excitons.   The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the π-conjugated compound emits fluorescence.   The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 13, wherein the π-conjugated compound emits delayed fluorescence.   The organic electroluminescent element according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the light-emitting layer includes the π-conjugated compound and a host compound.   The organic light-emitting device according to claim 11, wherein the light-emitting layer includes the π-conjugated compound and at least one of a fluorescent compound and a phosphorescent compound.   The organic light-emitting device according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the light-emitting layer includes the π-conjugated compound, at least one of a fluorescent compound and a phosphorescent compound, and a host compound. . The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 15 or 17, wherein the host compound has a structure represented by the following general formula (I).

(In the general formula (I),
X ₁₀₁ represents NR ₁₀₁ , an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a sulfinyl group, a sulfonyl group, CR ₁₀₂ R ₁₀₃ or SiR ₁₀₄ R ₁₀₅ ,
y _{1 to} y ₈ each independently represent CR ₁₀₆ or a nitrogen atom;
R _{101 to} R ₁₀₆ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring;
Ar ₁₀₁ and Ar ₁₀₂ each independently represent an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heteroaryl group;
n101 and n102 each represent an integer of 0 to 4.
_However, if _{R 101} is a hydrogen atom, n101 represents an integer of 1-4. ) The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 18, wherein the host compound having a structure represented by the general formula (I) has a structure represented by the following general formula (II).

(In general formula (II),
X ₁₀₁ represents NR ₁₀₁ , an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a sulfinyl group, a sulfonyl group, CR ₁₀₂ R ₁₀₃ or SiR ₁₀₄ R ₁₀₅ ,
R _{101 to} R ₁₀₅ each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring;
Ar ₁₀₁ and Ar ₁₀₂ each independently represent an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heteroaryl group;
n102 represents an integer of 0 to 4. )   The display apparatus containing the organic electroluminescent element as described in any one of Claims 11-19.   The illuminating device containing the organic electroluminescent element as described in any one of Claims 11-19.

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