New push–pull N(9)-alkylated 6-piperidino-2-triazolylpurine
and 2-piperidino-6-triazolylpurine derivatives are synthesized, and
their optical and optoelectronic properties are comprehensively characterized
with experimental and computational methods. The compounds possess
intense violet or blue fluorescence with fluorescence quantum yields
of up to 91% in solution and 40% in host-free films. Depending on
their structural composition, the compounds have ionization energy
in the range of 5.25–6.04 eV, electron affinity of 2.18–3.15
eV, and triplet energy of 2.52–2.95 eV. Due to the presence
of hole-transporting purine and electron-transporting triazole fragments,
compounds exhibit bipolar charge-transportation ability. Despite the
favorable emissive properties of the studied push–pull purines,
their electroluminescence in thin films is quenched owing to large
current densities that are present even at a moderate driving voltage.
This marks application directions related to a predominantly charge-transportation
functionality as the most suitable for this compound class.