3- or 5-hydroxyflavone-metal complexes were synthesized and applied to organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) as an emitting material and an electron transport material. Whenbis(5-hydroxyflavonato)beryllium[Be(5Fla)2]was used as an emitting material, the OLED showed a luminance of1900 cd/m2with yellow. On the other hand, when used as an electron transport material in an organic three-layer cell, a high luminance of more than10 000 cd/m2was obtained. Furthermore, the turn-on voltage of the OLED could be lowered to 2.4 V and its lifetime was more than 1300 h.Be(5Fla)2was found to have a good electron transporting capability and good stability. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.