DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This preliminary amendment dated December 8, 2023 is entered. Claims 1, 3, and 5-10 were amended. Claims 1-11 are pending.
Note that the foreign priority dates have not been perfected as no certified translations have been filed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-8, 10, and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ran et al. (US 2022/0144786 A1).
Ran et al. teaches organic compounds for an OLED device (see abstract). Regarding compound claims 1-4, compounds according to Formula I are taught (see par. 11):
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262
466
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.
In the formula I, n1 is 0 to 3, L is aryl or heteroaryl, Y1 and Y2 are C or N (when one of Y1 or Y2 is N the group is “azachrysenyl”), ring A is aromatic or heterocycle, R1 and R2 are aryl or heteroaryl, and X1 to X3 may be N (see par. 11-17). R1 and R2 groups may be groups set forth in par. 60 such as the following:
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66
182
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(where X5 heteroatom may be O per instant dibenzofuran group in instant formula 1; see par. 64)
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68
316
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(per instant Ar1 or Ar2 as aryl).
Note that the Ran et al. X5-containing above group may be selected to bond at the corresponding location to instant Formula 1 dibenzofuran group as the dashed line is into the center of the ring. When Y1 or Y2 is selected as nitrogen, the core group in Ran et al. Formula I substituted with ring A corresponds to a substituted aza group as required for instant one of Ar1 and Ar2. Defined groups for Ran et al. Formula I correspond to requirements for claims 1-4.
Regarding claim 5, when one of Y1 or Y2 is nitrogen, the group is the same as the first shown group of instant claim 5 (“azachrysenyl”).
Regarding claim 6, Ran et al. R1 or R2 may be selected as at least a phenyl or naphthyl (see par. 60).
Regarding claims 7 and 8, the following group per Ran et al. Formula I groups R1 or R2
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66
182
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(see par. 60 where X5 may be O; see par. 64)
may have a R11 or R12 selected as C6 aryl (see par. 66) or is unsubstituted when m4 and m45 are 0 (par. 70-71).
Regarding claims 10 and 11, the Formula I compounds are used in a device organic layer (see par. 78). Note with respect to claim 11, the claim only requires the structure of a layer comprising the material between electrodes.
Ran et al. does not appear to exemplify a compound of Formula I where the bonding location on the dibenzofuran group to the triazine is the same as claimed; however, given the teachings of the reference, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the instant invention to form a Ran et al. Formula I compound with selected groups as described above wherein the resultant compounds and device structures comprising the compounds would also meet the limitations of the instant claims.
Claims 1-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee et al. (US 2013/0001522 A1) in view of Jung et al. (US 2022/0356193 A1).
Lee et al. teaches heterocyclic compounds according to Formula I for an organic light emitting device (see abstract). Regarding compounds of claims 1-4, the heterocyclic compound may include the following Formula 2 or 3 aza groups (see par. 12) (“azachrysenyl”):
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216
306
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182
328
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.
In Formula 2 or 3, R1 to R18 may include group 2d (see par. 15):
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82
202
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Z1 and Z2 may be a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl (see par. 16). Aryl group is described to include at least phenyl or naphthyl (see par. 65) and heteroaryl is described to include one hetero atom selected from O (see par. 67). It is not seen where dibenzofuran is specifically listed as a Z1 or Z2 heteroaryl comprising one O. In analogous art, Jung et al. teaches a triazine substitution group upon a heteroaryl core-containing compound for an OLED may be substituted with a heteroaryl dibenzofuran group (see Jung et al. par. 46 triazine group and more specific group on page 14):
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156
208
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.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have selected a 1-dibenzofuran heteroaryl group as taught by Jung as a Z1 or Z2 heteroaryl group in a Lee et al. compound. One would expect the 1-dibenzofuran group as a heteroaryl group taught as desirable by Lee et al. to be similarly useful as a heteroaryl group upon a triazine group as taught by Jung et al. to form a light emitting device compound. One would expect to achieve a functional compound within the definition of Lee et al. and with selection of a specific heteroaryl dibenzofuran as taught by Jung with a predictable result and a reasonable expectation of success.
Regarding claim 5, Lee formula 2 is the same group as the first shown group of instant claim 5.
Regarding claim 6, Lee et al. Z1 and Z2 may be a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or (see par. 16). Aryl group is described to include at least phenyl or naphthyl (see par. 65). Regarding claim 7 and claim 8 formula 1-1, the R is not required to be present if a is zero.
Regarding claim 9, a Lee et al. compound is the same as the second shown compound when Lee et al. Formula 2 is present and is substituted by a triazine 2d as discussed above.
Regarding claims 10 and 11, the Lee et al. Formula 2 or 3 compounds are used in a light emitting device in a layer between electrodes (see par. 25), which may specifically be an emitting layer (see par. 28).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Mattioda, A. L., Hudgins, D. M., Bauschlicher, C. W., Rosi, M., & Allamandola, L. J. (2003). Infrared spectroscopy of matrix-isolated polycyclic aromatic compounds and their ions. 6. Polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles. The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 107(10), 1486-1498.
The article discusses polyaromatic aza compounds considered relevant to the state of the art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Dawn Garrett whose telephone number is (571)272-1523. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday (Eastern Time).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer Boyd can be reached at 571-272-7783. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DAWN L GARRETT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1786
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