The invention relates to a 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzothiazole chelated zinc derivative as well as a preparation method and an application thereof, belonging to the field of organic electroluminescentluminescent materials. The preparation method of the derivative comprises the following steps: firstly, introducing different substituent groups with electron-withdrawing or electron-donating capability in a benzothiazole benzene ring or a hydroxyphenyl benzene ring of a 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzothiazole matrix to obtain a substituted 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzothiazole ligand; coordinating with diatomic zinc to form a corresponding complex, and the like. The substituted 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzothiazole ligand can be prepared by a plurality of reactions, such as substituted aniline acylation, hydroxyl protection, hydroxyl thiocarbonate, Jacobson cyclization while hydroxyl deprotection, and the like or prepared by a direct reaction of O-amino thiophenol and substituted ortho-hydroxybenzoic acid. When applied to an organic electroluminescent luminescent device as an electronic transmission layer, the derivative has favorable electronic transmission performance and has performance superior to the most common electronic transmission material 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum.