Theoretical study on the influence of ancillary and cyclometalated ligands on the electronic structures and optoelectronic properties of heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes

We report a theoretical analysis of a series of heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes (dox)(2)Ir(acac) [dox = 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolato-N,C(2), acac = acetylacetonate] (1a), (fox)(2)Ir(acac) [fox = 2,5-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazolato-N,C(2)] (1b), (fox)(2)Ir(Et(2)dtc) [Et(2)dtc = N,N'-diethyldithiocarbamate] (2), (fox)(2)Ir(Et(2)dtp) [Et(2)dtp = O,O'-diethyldithiophosphate] (3), (pypz)(2)Ir(acac) [pypz = 3,5-di(2-pyridyl)pyrazole] (4a), (O-pypz)(2)Ir(acac) (4b), (S-pypz)(2)Ir(acac) (4c) and (bptz)(2)Ir(acac) [bptz = 3-tert-butyl-5-(2-pyridyl)triazole] (5) by using the density functional theory (DFT) method to investigate their electronic structures and photophysical properties and obtain further insights into the phosphorescent efficiency mechanism. Meanwhile, we also investigate the influence of ancillary and cyclometalated ligands on the properties of the above complexes. The results reveal that the nature of the ancillary ligands can influence the electron density distributions of frontier molecular orbitals and their energies, resulting in change in transition character and emission color, while the different cyclometalated ligands have a large impact on the charge transfer performances of the studied complexes. The calculated absorption and luminescence properties of the four complexes 1a, 1b, 2 and 3 are compared with the available experimental data and a good agreement is obtained. Further, the assumed complexes 4a and 4b possess better charge transfer abilities and more balanced charge transfer rates, and they are potential candidates as blue-emitting materials.     

Design and synthesis of iridium bis(carbene) complexes for efficient blue electrophosphorescence

Five iridium bis(carbene) complexes, [Ir(pmi)(2)(pypz)] (1), [Ir(mpmi)(2)(pypz)] (2), [Ir(fpmi)(2)(pypz)] (3), [Ir(fpmi)(2)(pyim)] (4), and [Ir(fpmi)(2)(tfpypz)] (5) (pmi=1-phenyl-3-methylimdazolin-2-ylidene-C,C(2'); fpmi=1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-methylimdazolin-2-ylidene-C,C(2'); mpmi=1-(4-methyl-phenyl)-3-methylimdazolin-2-ylidene-C,C(2'); pypz=2-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyridinato; pyim=2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyridinato; and tfpypz=2-(3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyridinato), were synthesized and their structures were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. These complexes showed phosphorescent emission with the emission maxima between 453 and 490 nm. Various spectrophotometric measurements, cyclic voltammetric studies, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that, unlike most of the phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium complexes, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy and the emissive state of these iridium complexes are mainly controlled by the N,N'-heteroaromatic (N^N) ligand. Despite the fact that the LUMO levels of these complexes are mainly on the N^N ligands, the efficiencies of the electroluminescent (EL) devices are very high. For example, the EL devices using [Ir(mpmi)(2)(pypz)], [Ir(fpmi)(2)(pypz)], and [Ir(fpmi)(2)(tfpypz)] as the dopant emitters exhibited light- to deep-blue electrophosphorescence with external quantum efficiencies of 15.2, 14.1, and 7.6% and Commission Internationale d'énclairage (x,y) coordinates (CIE(x,y)) of (0.14, 0.27), (0.14, 0.18) and (0.14, 0.10), respectively.     

1,12-Diazaperylene and 2,11-dialkylated-1,12-diazaperylene iridium(iii) complexes [Ir(C^N)(2)(N^N)]PF(6): new supramolecular assemblies

A series of new monocationic iridium(iii) complexes [Ir(C^N)(2)(N^N)]PF(6) with "large-surface"α,α'-diimin ligands N^N (dap = 1,12-diazaperylene, dmedap = 2,11-dimethyl-1,12-diazaperylene, dipdap = 2,11-diisopropyl-1,12-diazaperylene) and different cyclometalating ligands C^N (piq = 1-phenylisoquinoline, bzq = benzo[h]quinoline, ppz = 1-phenylpyrazole, thpy = 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine, ppy = 2-phenylpyridine, meppy = 2-(4-methylphenyl)pyridine, dfppy = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine) were synthesized. The solid structures of the complexes [Ir(piq)(2)(dap)]PF(6), [Ir(bzq)(2)(dap)]PF(6), [Ir(ppy)(2)(dipdap)]PF(6), [Ir(piq)(2)(dmedap)]PF(6), [Ir(ppy)(2)(dap)]PF(6) and [Ir(ppz)(2)(dap)]PF(6) are reported. In [Ir(piq)(2)(dap)]PF(6), the dap ligand and one of the piq ligands of each cationic complex are involved in π-π stacking interactions forming supramolecular channels running along the crystallographic c axis. In the crystalline [Ir(bzq)(2)(dap)]PF(6)π-π stacking interactions between the metal complexes lead to the formation of a 2D layer structure. In addition, CH-π interactions were found in all compounds, which are what stabilizes the solid structure. In particular, a significant number of them were found in [Ir(piq)(2)(dap)]PF(6) and [Ir(bzq)(2)(dap)]PF(6). The crystal structures of [Ir(ppy)(2)(dipdap)]PF(6) and [Ir(ppy)(2)(dmedap)]PF(6) are also presented, being the first examples of bis-cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes with phenanthroline-type α,α'-diimin ligands bearing bulky alkyl groups in the neighbourhood of the N-donor atoms. These ligands implicate a distorted octahedral coordination geometry that in turn destabilized the Ir-N(N^N) bonds. The new iridium(iii) complexes are not luminescent. All compounds show an electrochemically irreversible anodic peak between 1.15 and 1.58 V, which is influenced by the different cyclometalated ligands. All of the new complexes show two reversible successive one-electron "large-surface" ligand-centred reductions around -0.70 V and -1.30 V. Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and collision induced decomposition (CID) measurements were used to investigate the stability of the new complexes. Thereby, the stability agreed well with the order of the Ir-N(N^N) bond lengths.     

En route to the formation of high-efficiency, osmium(II)-based phosphorescent materials

Triosmium cluster complexes [Os3(CO)8(fppz)2] (2a) and [Os3(CO)8(fptz)2] (2b) bearing two 2-pyridyl azolate ligands were synthesized in an attempt to establish the reaction mechanism that gives rise to the blue-emitting phosphorescent complexes [Os(CO)2(fppz)2] (1a) and [Os(CO)2(fptz)2] (1b) [(fppz)H = 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole; (fptz)H = 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)triazole]. X-ray structural analysis of 2b showed an open triangular metal framework incorporating multisite-coordinated 2-pyridyltriazolate ligands. Treatment of 2 with the respective 2-pyridylazolate ligand led to the formation of blue-emitting complex 1b, confirming their intermediacy, while the reaction of 2b with phosphine ligand PPh2Me afforded two hitherto novel hydride complexes 3 and 4, for which the reversible interconversion was clearly established at higher temperatures (> 180 degrees C). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of 3 and 4 confirmed their monometallic and isomeric nature, together with the coordination of two phosphine ligands located in the trans-disposition and one CO and one hydride located opposite to the pyridyl triazolate chelate. Subtle differences in photophysical properties were examined for isomers 3 and 4 on the basis of steady state absorption and emission, the relaxation dynamics, and temperature-dependent luminescent studies. The results, in combination with time-dependent density function theory (TDDFT) calculations, provide fundamental insights into the future design and preparation of highly efficient phosphorescent emitters.     

Blue phosphorescence from mixed cyano-isocyanide cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes

The synthesis, structure, and photophysical and electrochemical properties of cyclometalated iridium complexes with ancillary cyano and isocyanide ligands are described. In the first synthetic step, cleavage of dichloro-bridged dimers [Ir(N=C)2(mu-Cl)]2 (N=C = 2-phenylpyridine, 2-(2-fluorophenyl)pyridine, and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine) by isocyanide ligands gave monomeric species of the types Ir(N=C)2(RNC)(Cl) (RNC = t-butyl isocyanide, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl isocyanide, 2-morpholinoethyl isocyanide, and 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide). In turn, the chloride was replaced by cyanide giving Ir(N=C)2(RNC)(CN). The X-ray structures for two of the complexes show that the trans-pyridyl/cis-phenyl geometry of the parent dimer is preserved, with the ancillary ligands positioned trans to the cyclometalated phenyls. The cyano complexes all display strong blue photoluminescence in ambient, deoxygenated solutions with the first lambdamax ranging from 441 to 458 nm, quantum yields spanning 0.60 to 0.75, and luminescent lifetimes of 12.0-21.4 mus. A lack of solvatochromism and highly structured emission indicate that the lowest energy excited state is triplet ligand centered with some admixture of singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer character.     

Heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes containing both azolate chromophoric chelate and diphenylphosphinoaryl cyclometalates; reactivities, electronic properties and applications

The synthesis of a new family of octahedral Ir(III) complexes with dual cyclometalating phosphine chelates, namely: 1-(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene (dpnaH) and isoquinoline (dppiH), is reported. Two series of intermediate complexes, [Ir(dpna)(tht)(2)Cl(2)] (1), [Ir(dpna)(2)(OAc)] (2), [Ir(dppiH)(dppi)Cl(2)] (3) and [Ir(dppi)(2)(OAc)] (4), which can be classified by the coexistence of either a pair of cis-chlorides or a single acetate chelate, were obtained from treatment of phosphine with [IrCl(3)(tht)(3)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene). The in situ generated acetate complexes 2 and 4 could react with azolate chelates, namely: 5-(2-pyridyl)-3-trifluoromethyl pyrazole (fppzH) and 5-(1-isoquinolyl)-3-tert-butyl-1,2,4-triazole (iqbtzH), to afford a new series of luminescent complexes [Ir(dpna)(2)(fppz)] (5a and 5b), [Ir(dpna)(2)(iqbtz)] (6a and 6b), [Ir(dppi)(2)(fppz)] (7a) and [Ir(dppi)(2)(iqbtz)] (8a). The phosphorescence lifetime (τ(obs)) fell in the range of a few tens of μs, showing possession of excessive ligand-centered ππ* mixed in part with MLCT character. A density functional theory (DFT) study was also conducted in order to shed light on the origin of the transitions in the absorption and emission spectra and to predict emission energies for these complexes. Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) displaying bright orange emission and with maximum η(ext) up to 17.1% were fabricated employing complexes 6a and 8a as the phosphorescent dopants.     

Control of the mutual arrangement of cyclometalated ligands in cationic iridium(III) complexes. Synthesis, spectroscopy, and electroluminescence of the different isomers

Synthetic control of the mutual arrangement of the cyclometalated ligands (C^N) in Ir(III) dimers, [Ir(C^N)(2)Cl](2), and cationic bis-cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes, [Ir(C^N)(2)(L^L)](+) (L^L = neutral ligand), is described for the first time. Using 1-benzyl-4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole (HdfptrBz) as a cyclometalating ligand, two different Ir(III) dimers, [Ir(dfptrBz)(2)Cl](2), are synthesized depending on the reaction conditions. At 80 °C, the dimer with an unusual mutual cis-C,C and cis-N,N configuration of the C^N ligands is isolated. In contrast, at higher temperature (140 °C), the geometrical isomer with the common cis-C,C and trans-N,N arrangement of the C^N ligand is obtained. In both cases, an asymmetric bridge, formed by a chloro ligand and two adjacent nitrogens of the triazole ring of one of the cyclometalated ligands, is observed. The dimers are cleaved in coordinating solvents to give the solvento complexes [Ir(dfptrBz)(2)Cl(S)] (S = DMSO or acetonitrile), which maintain the C^N arrangement of the parent dimers. Controlling the C^N ligand arrangement in the dimers allows for the preparation of the first example of geometrical isomers of a cationic bis-cyclometalated Ir(III) complex. Thus, N,N-trans-[Ir(dfptrBz)(2)(dmbpy)](+) (dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine), with cis-C,C and trans-N,N arrangement of the C^N ligands, as well as N,N-cis-[Ir(dfptrBz)(2)(dmbpy)](+), with cis-C,C and cis-N,N C^N ligand orientation, are synthesized and characterized. Interestingly, both isomers show significantly different photophysical and electroluminescent properties, depending on the mutual arrangement of the C^N ligands. Furthermore, quantum chemical calculations give insight into the observed photophysical experimental data.     

Acid-induced degradation of phosphorescent dopants for OLEDs and its application to the synthesis of tris-heteroleptic iridium(III) bis-cyclometalated complexes

Investigations of blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on [Ir(2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine)(2)(picolinate)] (FIrPic) have pointed to the cleavage of the picolinate as a possible reason for device instability. We reproduced the loss of picolinate and acetylacetonate ancillary ligands in solution by the addition of Br?nsted or Lewis acids. When hydrochloric acid is added to a solution of a [Ir(C^N)(2)(X^O)] complex (C^N = 2-phenylpyridine (ppy) or 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (diFppy) and X^O = picolinate (pic) or acetylacetonate (acac)), the cleavage of the ancillary ligand results in the direct formation of the chloro-bridged iridium(III) dimer [{Ir(C^N)(2)(μ-Cl)}(2)]. When triflic acid or boron trifluoride are used, a source of chloride (here tetrabutylammonium chloride) is added to obtain the same chloro-bridged iridium(III) dimer. Then, we advantageously used this degradation reaction for the efficient synthesis of tris-heteroleptic cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes [Ir(C^N(1))(C^N(2))(L)], a family of cyclometalated complexes otherwise challenging to prepare. We used an iridium(I) complex, [{Ir(COD)(μ-Cl)}(2)], and a stoichiometric amount of two different C^N ligands (C^N(1) = ppy; C^N(2) = diFppy) as starting materials for the swift preparation of the chloro-bridged iridium(III) dimers. After reacting the mixture with acetylacetonate and subsequent purification, the tris-heteroleptic complex [Ir(ppy)(diFppy)(acac)] could be isolated with good yield from the crude containing as well the bis-heteroleptic complexes [Ir(ppy)(2)(acac)] and [Ir(diFppy)(2)(acac)]. Reaction of the tris-heteroleptic acac complex with hydrochloric acid gives pure heteroleptic chloro-bridged iridium dimer [{Ir(ppy)(diFppy)(μ-Cl)}(2)], which can be used as starting material for the preparation of a new tris-heteroleptic iridium(III) complex based on these two C^N ligands. Finally, we use DFT/LR-TDDFT to rationalize the impact of the two different C^N ligands on the observed photophysical and electrochemical properties.     

Color tuning associated with heteroleptic cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes: influence of the ancillary ligand

We report the preparation of a series of new heteroleptic Ir(III) metal complexes chelated by two cyclometalated 1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyrazole ligands (dfpz)H and a third ancillary bidentate ligand (L=X). Such an intricate design lies in a core concept that the cyclometalated dfpz ligands always warrant a greater pi pi* gap in these series of iridium complexes. Accordingly, the lowest one-electron excitation would accommodate the pi* orbital of the ancillary L=X ligands, the functionalization of which is then exploited to fine-tune the phosphorescent emission wavelengths. Amongst the L=X ligands designed, three classes (series 1-3) can be categorized, and remarkable bathochromic shifts of phosphorescence were observed by (i) replacing the 2-benzoxazol-2-yl substituent (1a) with the 2-benzothiazol-2-yl group (1b) in the phenolate complexes, (ii) converting the pyridyl group (2a) to the pyrazolyl group (2b) and even to the isoquinolyl group (2c) in the pyrazolate complexes and (iii) extending the pi-conjugation of the benzimidazolate ligand from 3a to 3b. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction study on complex [(dfpz)Ir(bzpz)] (2b) was conducted to confirm their general molecular architectures. Complex 2b was also used as a representative example for fabrication of multilayered, green-emitting phosphorescent OLEDs using the direct thermal evaporation technique.     

Syntheses and properties of emissive iridium(III) complexes with tridentate benzimidazole derivatives

A series of novel emissive Ir(III) complexes having the coordination environments of [Ir(N--N--N)2]3+, [Ir(N--N--N)(N--N)Cl]2+, and [Ir(N--N--N)(N--C--N)]2+ with 2,6-bis(1-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine (L1, N--N--N), 1,3-bis(1-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene (L2H, N--C--N), 4'-(4-methylphenyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine (ttpy, N--N--N), and 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy, N--N) have been synthesized and their photophysical and electrochemical properties studied. The Ir(III) complexes exhibited phosphorescent emissions in the 500-600 nm region, with lifetimes ranging from approximately 1-10 micros at 295 K. Analysis of the 0-0 energies and the redox potentials indicated that the lowest excited state of [Ir(L1)(L2)]2+ possessed the highest contribution of 3MLCT (MLCT = metal-to-ligand charge transfer) among the Ir(III) complexes, reflecting the sigma-donating ability of the tridentate ligand, ttpy < L1 < L2. The emission quantum yields (phi) of the Ir(III) complexes ranged from 0.037 to 0.19, and the highest phi value (0.19) was obtained for [Ir(L1)(bpy)Cl]2+. Radiative rate constants (k(r)) were 1.2 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(ttpy)2]3+, 3.7 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(L1)(bpy)Cl]2+, 3.8 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(ttpy)(bpy)Cl]2+, 3.9 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(L1)2]3+, and 6.6 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(L1)(L2)]2+. The highest radiative rate for [Ir(L1)(L2)]2+ with the highest contribution of 3MLCT could be explained in terms of the singlet-triplet mixing induced by spin-orbit coupling of 5d electrons in the MLCT electronic configurations.     

Discrete half-sandwich Ir, Rh-based organometallic molecular boxes: synthesis, characterization, and their properties

The treatment of binuclear complexes [Cp*(2)M(2)(μ-QA)Cl(2)] (M = Ir, 2a; M = Rh, 2b) (H(2)QA = 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone) with pyrazine or bifuncational pyridyl-based ligands (4,4'-dipyridine (bpy), E-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene (bpe), 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (bpo), and 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol (bpt)) in the presence of AgOTf (OTf = CF(3)SO(3)) in CH(3)OH, gave the corresponding tetra-nuclear complexes, with a general formula of [Cp*(4)M(4)(μ-QA)(2)(μ-L)(2)](OTf)(4) (M = Ir, 3a-7a; M = Rh, 3b-7b), respectively. The molecular structure of [Cp*(4)Ir(4)(μ-QA)(2)(μ-pyrazine)(2)](OTf)(4) (3a) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis, revealing that the metal centers were connected by pyrazine and bis-bidentate QA(2-) ligands to construct a rectangular cavity with the dimension of 7.30 × 8.41 × 6.92 ?. Complexes 3a and 3b were found to exhibit selective trapping of halocarbons properties.     

Syntheses, emission properties and intramolecular ligand exchange of zinc complexes with ligands belonging to the tmpa family

The zinc complexes [(L1)(2)Zn(MeOH)(2)](OTf)(2), [(L1)ZnCl(2)], [(L2)ZnCl(2)], [(L2)Zn(OTf)(H(2)O)]OTf and [(Me-bispic)ZnCl(2)] of the ligands N-[(2-pyridyl)methyl]-2,2'-dipyridylamine (L1), N-[bis(2-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylamine (L2) and N-methyl-[bis(2-pyridyl)methyl]amine (Me-bispic) were synthesised and characterised. The first copper(I) complexes of the ligands L1 and L2 were also synthesised and structurally characterised. [(L1)ZnCl(2)] showed unexpected fluxional behaviour in solution and revealed an interesting intramolecular ligand exchange mechanism in the coordination sphere of the zinc ion. Furthermore, strong blue emission was observed under UV-light excitation.     

Control of intramolecular π-π stacking interaction in cationic iridium complexes via fluorination of pendant phenyl rings

Intramolecular π-π stacking interaction in one kind of phosphorescent cationic iridium complexes has been controlled through fluorination of the pendant phenyl rings on the ancillary ligands. Two blue-green-emitting cationic iridium complexes, [Ir(ppy)(2)(F2phpzpy)]PF(6) (2) and [Ir(ppy)(2)(F5phpzpy)]PF(6) (3), with the pendant phenyl rings on the ancillary ligands substituted with two and five fluorine atoms, respectively, have been synthesized and compared to the parent complex, [Ir(ppy)(2)(phpzpy)]PF(6) (1). Here Hppy is 2-phenylpyridine, F2phpzpy is 2-(1-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine, F5phpzpy is 2-(1-pentafluorophenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-pyridine, and phpzpy is 2-(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine. Single crystal structures reveal that the pendant phenyl rings on the ancillary ligands stack to the phenyl rings of the ppy ligands, with dihedral angles of 21°, 18°, and 5.0° between least-squares planes for complexes 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and centroid-centroid distances of 3.75, 3.65, and 3.52 ? for complexes 1, 2, and 3, respectively, indicating progressively reinforced intramolecular π-π stacking interactions from complexes 1 to 2 and 3. Compared to complex 1, complex 3 with a significantly reinforced intramolecular face-to-face π-π stacking interaction exhibits a significantly enhanced (by 1 order of magnitude) photoluminescent efficiency in solution. Theoretical calculations reveal that in complex 3 it is unfavorable in energy for the pentafluorophenyl ring to swing by a large degree and the intramolecular π-π stacking interaction remains on the lowest triplet state.     

Metal vs ligand reduction in complexes of dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine and related ligands with [(C5Me5)ClM]+ (M = Rh or Ir): evidence for potential rather than orbital control in the reductive cleavage of the metal-chloride bond

Complexes between the chlorometal(III) cations [(C5Me5)ClM]+, M = Rh or Ir, and the 1,10-phenanthroline-derived alpha-diimine (N--N) ligands dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz), 1,4,7,10-tetraazaphenanthrene (tap), or 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (pdo) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, EPR, and UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry with respect to either ligand-based or metal-centered (and then chloride-dissociative) reduction. Two low-lying unoccupied molecular orbitals (MOs) are present in each of these three N wedge N ligands; however, their different energies and interface properties are responsible for different results. Metal-centered chloride-releasing reduction was observed for complexes of the DNA-intercalation ligands dppz and tap to yield compounds [(N--N)(C5Me5)M] in a two-electron step. The separation of alpha-diimine centered optical orbitals and phenazine-based redox orbitals is apparent from the EPR and UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry of [(dppz)(C5Me5)M](0/*-/2-). In contrast, the pdo complexes undergo a reversible one-electron reduction to yield o-semiquinone radical complexes [(pdo)(C5Me5)ClM]* before releasing the chloride after the second electron uptake. The fact that the dppz complexes undergo a Cl(-)-dissociative two-electron reduction despite the presence of a lowest lying pi* MO (b1(phz)) with very little overlap to the metal suggests that an unoccupied metal/chloride-based orbital is lower in energy. This assertion is confirmed both by the half-wave reduction potentials of the ligands (tap, -1.95 V; dppz, -1.60 V; pdo, -0.85 V) and by the typical reduction peak potentials of the complexes [(L)(C5Me5)ClM](PF6) (tap, -1.1 V; dppz, -1.3 V; pdo, -0.6 V; all values against Fc(+/0)).     

Phosphorescence vs fluorescence in cyclometalated platinum(II) and iridium(III) complexes of (oligo)thienylpyridines

Two newly prepared oligothienylpyridines, 5-(2-pyridyl)-5'-dodecyl-2,2'-bithiophene, HL(2), and 5-(2-pyridyl)-5'-dodecyl-2,2':5',2'-ter-thiophene, HL(3), bind to platinum(II) and iridium(III) as N∧C-coordinating ligands, cyclometallating at position C(4) in the thiophene ring adjacent to the pyridine, leaving a chain of either one or two pendent thiophenes. The synthesis of complexes of the form [PtL(n)(acac)] and [Ir(L(n))(2)(acac)] (n = 2 or 3) is described. The absorption and luminescence properties of these four new complexes are compared with the behavior of the known complexes [PtL(1)(acac)] and [Ir(L(1))(2)(acac)] {HL(1) = 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine}, and the profound differences in behavior are interpreted with the aid of time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. Whereas [PtL(1)(acac)] displays solely intense phosphorescence from a triplet state of mixed ππ*/MLCT character, the phosphorescence of [PtL(2)(acac)] and [PtL(3)(acac)] is weak, strongly red shifted, and accompanied by higher-energy fluorescence. TD-DFT reveals that this difference is probably due to the metal character in the lowest-energy excited states being strongly attenuated upon introduction of the additional thienyl rings, such that the spin-orbit coupling effect of the metal in promoting intersystem crossing is reduced. A similar pattern of behavior is observed for the iridium complexes, except that the changeover to dual emission is delayed to the terthiophene complex [Ir(L(3))(2)(acac)], reflecting the higher degree of metal character in the frontier orbitals of the iridium complexes than their platinum counterparts.     

Dimethylsulfoxide as a ligand for RhI and IrI complexes--isolation, structure, and reactivity towards X-H bonds (X=H, OH, OCH3)

Novel neutral and cationic Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes that contain only DMSO molecules as dative ligands with S-, O-, and bridging S,O-binding modes were isolated and characterized. The neutral derivatives [RhCl(DMSO)(3)] (1) and [IrCl(DMSO)(3)] (2) were synthesized from the dimeric precursors [M(2)Cl(2)(coe)(4)] (M=Rh, Ir; COE=cyclooctene). The dimeric Ir(I) compound [Ir(2)Cl(2)(DMSO)(4)] (3) was obtained from 2. The first example of a square-planar complex with a bidentate S,O-bridging DMSO ligand, [(coe)(DMSO)Rh(micro-Cl)(micro-DMSO)RhCl(DMSO)] (4), was obtained by treating [Rh(2)Cl(2)(coe)(4)] with three equivalents of DMSO. The mixed DMSO-olefin complex [IrCl(cod)(DMSO)] (5, COD=cyclooctadiene) was generated from [Ir(2)Cl(2)(cod)(2)]. Substitution reactions of these neutral systems afforded the complexes [RhCl(py)(DMSO)(2)] (6), [IrCl(py)(DMSO)(2)] (7), [IrCl(iPr(3)P)(DMSO)(2)] (8), [RhCl(dmbpy)(DMSO)] (9, dmbpy=4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine), and [IrCl(dmbpy)(DMSO)] (10). The cationic O-bound complex [Rh(cod)(DMSO)(2)]BF(4) (11) was synthesized from [Rh(cod)(2)]BF(4). Treatment of the cationic complexes [M(coe)(2)(O=CMe(2))(2)]PF(6) (M=Rh, Ir) with DMSO gave the mixed S- and O-bound DMSO complexes [M(DMSO)(2)(DMSO)(2)]PF(6) (Rh=12; Ir=in situ characterization). Substitution of the O-bound DMSO ligands with dmbpy or pyridine resulted in the isolation of [Rh(dmbpy)(DMSO)(2)]PF(6) (13) and [Ir(py)(2)(DMSO)(2)]PF(6) (14). Oxidative addition of hydrogen to [IrCl(DMSO)(3)] (2) gave the kinetic product fac-[Ir(H)(2)Cl(DMSO)(3)] (15) which was then easily converted to the more thermodynamically stable product mer-[Ir(H)(2)Cl(DMSO)(3)] (16). Oxidative addition of water to both neutral and cationic Ir(I) DMSO complexes gave the corresponding hydrido-hydroxo addition products syn-[(DMSO)(2)HIr(micro-OH)(2)(micro-Cl)IrH(DMSO)(2)][IrCl(2)(DMSO)(2)] (17) and anti-[(DMSO)(2)(DMSO)HIr(micro-OH)(2)IrH(DMSO)(2)(DMSO)][PF(6)](2) (18). The cationic [Ir(DMSO)(2)(DMSO)(2)]PF(6) complex (formed in situ from [Ir(coe)(2)(O=CMe(2))(2)]PF(6)) also reacts with methanol to give the hydrido-alkoxo complex syn-[(DMSO)(2)HIr(micro-OCH(3))(3)IrH(DMSO)(2)]PF(6) (19). Complexes 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, and 19 were characterized by crystallography.     

Luminescent complexes of iridium(III) containing N/\C/\N-coordinating terdentate ligands

A family of bis-terdentate iridium(III) complexes is reported which contain a cyclometalated, N/\C[wedge]N-coordinating 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene derivative. This coordination mode is favored by blocking competitive cyclometalation at the C4 and C6 positions of the ligand. Thus, 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)-4,6-dimethylbenzene (dpyxH) reacts with IrCl3 x 3H2O to generate a dichlorobridged dimer [Ir(dpyx-N,C,N)Cl(mu-Cl)]2, 1. This dimer is cleaved by DMSO to give [Ir(dpyx)(DMSO)Cl2], the X-ray crystal structure of which is reported here, confirming the N/\C/\N coordination mode of dpyx. The dimer 1 can also be cleaved by a variety of other ligands to generate novel classes of mononuclear complexes. These include charge-neutral bis-terdentate complexes of the form [Ir(N/\C/\N)(C/\N/\C)] and [Ir(N/\C/\N)(C/\N/\O)], by reaction of 1 with C/\N/\C-coordinating ligands (e.g., 2,6-diphenylpyridine and derivatives) and C/\N/\O-coordinating ligands (based on 6-phenylpicolinate), respectively. Treatment of 1 with terpyridines leads to dicationic complexes of the type [Ir(N/\C/\N)(N/\N/\N)]2+, while 2-phenylpyridine gives [Ir(dpyx-N/\C/\N)(ppy-C,N)Cl]. All of the charge-neutral complexes are luminescent in fluid solution at room temperature. Assignment of the emission to charge-transfer excited states with significant MLCT character is supported by DFT calculations. In the [Ir(N/\C/\N)(C/\N/\C)] class, fluorination of the C/\N/\C ligand at the phenyl 2' and 4' positions leads to a blue-shift in the emission and to an increase in the quantum yield (lambda(max) = 547 nm, phi = 0.41 in degassed CH(3)CN at 295 K) compared to the nonfluorinated parent complex (lambda(max) = 585 nm, phi = 0.21), as well as to a stabilization of the compound with respect to photodissociation through cleavage of mutually trans Ir-C bonds. [Ir(dpyx-N/\C/\N)(ppy-C,N)Cl] is an exceptionally bright emitter: phi = 0.76, lambda(max) = 508 nm, in CH(3)CN at 295 K. In contrast, the [Ir(N/\C/\N)(C/\N/\O)] complexes are much less emissive, shown to be due to fast nonradiative decay of the excited state, probably involving reversible Ir-O bond cleavage. The [Ir(N/\C/\N)(N/\N/\N)]2+ complexes are very feeble emitters even at 77 K, probably due to the almost exclusively interligand charge-transfer nature of the lowest-energy excited state in these complexes.     

Early-late heterobimetallic alkoxides as model systems for late-transition-metal catalysts supported on titania

Titanium complexes with chelating alkoxide ligands [TiCp*(O(2)Bz)(OBzOH)] (1) and [TiCp*(Me)((OCH(2))(2)Py)] (2) were synthesised by reaction of [TiCp*Me(3)] (Cp*=eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) with 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol ((HO)(2)Bz) and 2,6-pyridinedimethanol ((HOCH(2))(2)Py), respectively. Complex 1 reacts with [(M(mu-OH)(cod))(2)] (M=Rh, Ir) to yield the early-late heterobimetallic complexes [TiCp*(O(2)Bz)(2)M(cod)] [M=Rh (3), Ir (4)]. Carbon monoxide readily replaces the COD ligand in 3 to give the rhodium dicarbonyl derivative [TiCp*(O(2)Bz)(2)Rh(CO)(2)] (5). Compound 2 reacts with [(M(mu-OH)(cod))(2)] (M=Rh, Ir) with protonolysis of a Tibond;Me bond to give [TiCp*((OCH(2))(2)Py)(mu-O)M(cod)] [M=Rh (6), Ir (7)]. The molecular structures of complexes 3, 5 and 7 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Nitric oxide binding and photodelivery based on ruthenium(II) complexes of 4-arylazo-3,5-dimethylpyrazole

Two fluorescent ligands, 3,5-dimethyl-4-(6'-sulfonylammonium-1'-azonaphthyl)pyrazole (dmpzn, 1) and 3,5-dimethyl-4-(4'-N,N'-dimethylaminoazophenyl)pyrazole (dmpza, 2) were obtained by condensation of ketoenolic derivatives with hydrazine. 1 and 2 formed the novel dinuclear complexes [(H(2)O)(3)ClRu(micro-L)(2)RuCl(H(2)O)(3)] (3 or 4) and [(H(2)O)(NO)Cl(2)Ru(micro-L)(2)RuCl(2)(NO)(H(2)O)] (6 or 7) (where L 1 = 2 or , respectively) which were characterized by IR, NMR and elemental analysis. The nitrosyl complexes were prepared by bubbling purified nitric oxide through methanol solutions of the corresponding ruthenium(II) chloroderivative or by reaction of the appropriate ligands with Ru(NO)Cl(3). Complexes 3 and 4 were found to bind NO, resulting in an increase in fluorescence. Ligand 1 also formed the mononuclear nitrosyl complex [Ru(NO)(bpy)(2)(dmpzn)]Cl(2) (8) which released NO in water at physiological pH and in the solid state as revealed by fluorescence and IR measurements, respectively.     

New [Mo(eta3-allyl)(CO)2L3]+ complexes with monodentate or tridentate nitrogen-donor ligands

Cationic complexes [Mo(eta(3)-allyl)(CO)2L3]+ (L3 = either nitrogen-donor tridentate ligand or three monodentate ligands) were prepared in high yield and under mild conditions using as precursors either the triflato complex [Mo(eta(3)-allyl)(OTf)(CO)2(NCMe)2] or the combination of the chloro complex [Mo(eta(3)-allyl)Cl(CO)2(NCMe)2] and the salt NaBAr'(4)(Ar'= 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl). The tridentate ligands employed were 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (terpy) and cis,cis-1,3,5-cyclohexanetriamine (CHTA), whereas the monodentate ligands imidazole (im) and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (dmpz) were chosen. In order to stabilize the labile intermediates, an excess of acetonitrile was used in most of the syntheses. However, the pyrazole complex was prepared through a nitrile-free route to avoid reactions at the coordinated nitrile. The solid state structures of [Mo(eta(3)-methallyl)(CO)2(terpy)]OTf (2), [Mo(eta(3)-methallyl)(CO)2(CHTA)]BAr'4 (3), [Mo(eta(3)-methallyl)(CO)2(NCMe)3]BAr'4 (4), [Mo(eta(3)-allyl)(CO)2(im)3]OTf (5) and [Mo(eta(3)-allyl)(CO)2(dmpz)3]BAr'4 (6) were determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction.