NOVELTY - Boron- or aluminum-based substituted carbo- or hetero-cyclic spiro compounds (I) and (II) are new.    USE - Claimed uses are in organic luminescence (e.g. OLED) and phosphorescence devices, specifically in electron transport layers, hole blocking layers, electron transport materials for photocopiers, electron-acceptors or -transport materials for solar cells, charge-transport materials for organic ICs or in organic solid lasers or organic photo-detectors.    ADVANTAGE - Compared to prior-art AlQ3-type compounds, (I) and (II) have a higher temperature stability, significantly higher oxidation stability and significantly less hygroscopicity, and can be handled without the need for a protective gas. They can be reproducibly prepared in high purity and are (almost) colorless, highly efficient in electroluminescence devices and of good solvent solubility.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - B- or Al-based substituted carbo- or hetero-cyclic spiro compounds of formula (I) and (II) are new.    In (I), Q1-Q4 = CN, F, Cl, 1-20C linear, branched or cyclic alkyl or alkoxy (optionally with non-adjacent CH2 replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO-, -COO-, -O-CO-, -NR1-, -N(R2R3)+- A- or -CONR4- and with one or more H optionally replaced by F) or 4-14C (hetero)aryl (optionally substituted by one or more non-aromatic Q group);    A- = anion or equivalent;    R1-R4 = H or 1-20C aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon;    n = 0, 1, 2 or 3;    X = -CH- or -N-;    at least 2 of Y1-Y6 in (I) = groups of formula (IA), with any non-Y1-Y6-substituted positions on the rings carrying Q group or H;    Aryl1 and Aryl2 = phenyl, 1- or 2-naphthyl, 1-, 2- or 9-anthracenyl, 2-, 3- or 4-pyridinyl, 2-, 4- or 5-pyrimidinyl, 2-pyrazinyl, 3- or 4-pyridazinyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-quinolinyl, 2- or 3-thiophenyl, 2- or 3-pyrrolyl, 2- or 3-furanyl or 2-(1,3,4-oxadiazol)yl;    R' and R'' = as for Q1-Q4 but with the 4-14C (hetero)aryl optionally substituted by one or more non-aromatic R' group;    m = 0-5; and    Z' = B or Al.    In (II) at least 2 of Y1-Y4 = groups of formula (IIA), with any non-Y1-Y4-substituted positions on the rings carrying Q group or H;    n = 0-2;    R1-R4 = 1-20C alkyl, alkoxy or aryl; and    R5 and R6 = H, CN, Cl, Br, F, I, linear, branched or cyclic alkyl or alkoxy, thio-alkyl or -aryl, NO2, diaryl- or dialkyl-amino or an ester, amide or a carboxylic acid group, the alkyl, alkoxy and aryl being 1-20C.