Novel organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) with hexatriene derivative compounds that allow for the creation of brighter, more efficient, and more stable blue light emitting device. The class of compounds used in this novel class of OLEDs include compounds selected from the group consisting of general formulas: ##STR00001## wherein R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl, phenyl, tolyl, xylyl tert-butylphenyl, methoxyphenyl, 3,5-diphenylphenyl, 3,5-bis(p-tert-butylphenyl)phenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, phenylanthryl, diphenylanthryl, and halophenyl.