Facile B–N Covalent Bond Fusion in <i>N</i> , <i>N′</i> ‐Diaryldihydrophenazines: Achieving Efficient Narrowband Electroluminescence and Controlled Redox Activity

D Danrui Wan (Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China) C Chenglong Li (Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States) G Guoyun Meng X Xiangqin Gan (Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China) J Jianping Zhou Q Qi Wang Y Yafei Shi (College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University) S Shuai Xiao Y Yuanchun Yue (Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China) S Shaobiao Zhu (Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China) L Liang Shan (Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St.) D Dongdong Zhang P Pangkuan Chen (Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/ Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Beijing Institute of Technology Beijing P. R. China) L Lian Duan (Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry) J Junqiao Ding (Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Covalently fusing multiple B–N units into redox‐active polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) offers a powerful strategy for creating π‐extended systems with novel functionalities, but it remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report a facile, one‐pot, and lithium‐free NH‐directed borylation to construct a series of 5,10‐dihydro‐5,10‐diphenylphenazine (DPPA) derivatives fused by two or four B–N covalent bonds. Such a multiple B–N locking is found not only to enforce molecular rigidity and suppress excited‐state structural relaxation, but also to profoundly modulate the electronic structure and antiaromaticity of the central DPPA core. Interestingly, the resultant quadruply fused system (4BN‐Ph) can function as an unprecedented narrowband orange‐red thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitter, enabling efficient electroluminescence with a record‐high external quantum efficiency of 31.2% and a notably small full‐width at half‐maximum of 32 nm at an emissive peak of 595 nm. Also, 4BN‐Ph displays intriguing redox‐controlled properties, since a stepwise oxidation generates near‐infrared‐absorbing open‐shell radical cations and closed‐shell dications. This work establishes a modular route to PAHs incorporating multiple B–N covalent bonds, with exceptional optoelectronic and spintronic properties.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 27
Published July 01, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

D

Danrui Wan

Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China

C

Chenglong Li

Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States

G

Guoyun Meng

X

Xiangqin Gan

Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China

J

Jianping Zhou

Q

Qi Wang

Y

Yafei Shi

College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University

S

Shuai Xiao

Y

Yuanchun Yue

Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China

S

Shaobiao Zhu

Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China

L

Liang Shan

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St.

D

Dongdong Zhang

P

Pangkuan Chen

Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/ Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Beijing Institute of Technology Beijing P. R. China

L

Lian Duan

Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry

J

Junqiao Ding

Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University National Center for International Joint Research of Photoelectronic Energy Materials and Application Kunming P. R. China