Abstract: A new class of materials for use in electric and electroluminescent devices having one or more phosphine oxide moieties bonded by single bonds to two outer groups. In embodiments having two or more phosphine oxide moieties, the two or more phosphine oxide moieties are further joined by a bridging group. By selecting appropriate bridging and outer groups, the new class of materials of the present invention enables designers to “tune” the electrical and electroluminescent characteristics of the materials. The phosphine oxide moiety restricts electron conjugation between the bridging and outer groups, isolating the bridging and outer groups from each other, and allowing the photophysical properties of the bridging and outer groups to be maintained in the molecule. The lowest energy component (bridging group or particular outer group) thus defines the triplet state, highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular energies for the entire molecule.

Abstract: A series of 2,2?-bipyridines or 1,10-phenanthrolines featuring alkyl groups appended in the 4,4? positions or 4,7-positions have been prepared. There is an insulating role of the methylene spacers as the electrochemical reduction potentials of these compounds that is almost identical to that of 2,2?-bipyridine. Calculations for (CH2)nCF3 derivatives (n=0-10) describes a limit for impact of CF3 through 9-10 methylenes. From both physical and theoretical data (CH2)3(CF2)x-1CF3 alkyl groups are inductively equivalent to hydrogen. Complexes of the present invention have the formula cis-LPtCl2 where L is a 4,4?-substituted-2,2?-bipyridine or a 4,7-substituted-1,10-phenanthroline. The substituents may preferably be normal, branched and cyclic alkyl groups, alkyl groups with ether linkages, highly fluorinated alkyl group, highly fluorinated alkyl groups with ether linkages, hydroxyl terminated alkyl groups, hydroxyl-terminated alkyl groups with ether linkages and perfluorinated alkyl groups.