Electrochemical Investigations Give Some Insights into the Coordination Chemistry of New Stable Iridium(+1), Iridium(0), and Iridium(−1) Complexes

The redox chemistry of the stable tetracoordinated 16 valence electron d⁸‐[Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂]⁺(PF₆)^? and pentacoordinated 18 valence d⁸‐[Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂Cl] complexes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (tropp^Ph=dibenzotropylidenyl phosphine). The experiments were performed using a platinum microelectrode varying scan rates (100 mV/s–10 V/s) and temperatures (? 40 to 20 °C) in tetrahydrofuran, THF, or acetonitrile, ACN, as solvents. In THF, the overall two‐electron reduction of the 16 valence electron d⁸‐[Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂]⁺(PF₆)^? proceeds in two well separated slow heterogeneous electron transfer steps according to: d⁸‐[Ir^+I (tropp^Ph)₂]⁺+e^?→d⁹‐[Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂]+e^?→d¹⁰‐[Ir^?I(tropp^Ph)₂]^?, [k^s₁=2.2×10^?3 cm/s for d⁸‐Ir^+I/d⁹‐Ir⁰ and k^s₂=2.0×10^?3 cm/s for d⁹‐Ir⁰/d¹⁰‐Ir^?I]. In ACN, the two redox waves merge into one “two‐electron” wave [k^s_1,2=7.76×10^?4 cm/s for d⁸‐Ir^+I/d⁹‐Ir⁰ and d⁹‐Ir⁰/d¹⁰‐Ir^?I] most likely because the neutral [Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂] complex is destabilized. At low temperatures (ca. ? 40 °C) and at high scan rates (ca. 10 V/s), the two‐electon redox process is kinetically resolved. In equilibrium with the tetracoordianted complex [Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂]⁺ are the pentacoordinated 18 valence [Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂L]⁺ complexes (L=THF, ACN, Cl^?) and their electrochemical behavior was also investigated. They are irreversibly reduced at rather high negative potentials (? 1.8 to ? 2.4 V) according to an ECE mechanism 1) [Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂(L)]+e^?→[Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂(L)]; 2) [Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂(L)]→[Ir(tropp^Ph)₂]+L, iii) [Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂]+e^?→[Ir^?I(tropp^Ph)₂]^?. Since all electroactive species were isolated and structurally characterized, our measurements allow for the first time a detailed insight into some fundamental aspects of the coordination chemistry of iridium complexes in unusually low formal oxidation states.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Chiral Bis(aminato)iridate(I) and Aminato‐Bridged Iridium(I) Complexes

The two dinuclear Ir^I complexes [Ir₂(μ‐Cl)₂ {(R)‐(S)‐PPF‐PPh₂}₂] ( 1 ; (R)‐(S)‐PPF‐PPh₂=(S)‐1‐(diphenylphosphino)‐2‐[(R)‐1‐(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]ferrocene and [Ir₂(μ‐Cl)₂{(R)‐binap}₂] ( 3 ; (R)‐binap=(R)‐[1,1′‐binaphthalene]‐2,2′‐diylbis[diphenylphosphine]) smoothly react with 4 equiv. of the lithium salt of aniline to afford the new bis(anilido)iridate(I) (=bis(benzenaminato)iridate(1‐)) complexes Li[Ir(NHPh)₂{(R)‐(S)‐PPF‐PPh₂}] ( 4 ) and Li[Ir(NHPh)₂{(R)‐binap}] ( 5 ), respectively. The anionic complexes 4 and 5 react upon protonolysis to give the dinuclear aminato‐bridged derivatives [Ir₂(μ‐NHPh)₂{(R)‐(S)‐PPF‐PPh₂}₂] ( 6 ) and [Ir₂(μ‐NHPh)₂{(R)‐binap}₂] ( 7 ), which were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. None of the new complexes 4 – 7 shows catalytic activity in the hydroamination of olefins.     

Controlled Formation of Thiol‐Thiolate Hydrogen versus Disulfide Bonds between Two Iridium(III) Centers

Here, we report an iridium(III) coordination system with 2‐aminoethanethiolate (aet), which shows the formation of S?H???S hydrogen and S?S disulfide bonds in a controlled manner. Treatment of fac‐[Ir(aet)₃] with aqueous HBF₄ under aerobic conditions gave dinuclear [Ir₂(aet)₄(cysta)]²⁺ ([ 1 ]²⁺; cysta=cystamine) with a single S?S disulfide bond, while dimeric [Ir₂(aet)₃(Haet)₃](BF₄)₃ ([ 2 ](BF₄)₃) with a triple S?H???S hydrogen bond was formed by similar treatment under anaerobic conditions. Upon exposure to air, [ 2 ]³⁺ was converted to dinuclear [Ir₂(aet)₂(Haet)₂(cysta)]⁴⁺ ([ 3 ]⁴⁺), in which two Ir^III centers are spanned by a double S?H???S hydrogen bond and a single S?S disulfide bond. Complex [ 3 ]⁴⁺ was interconvertible with [ 1 ]²⁺ via the removal/addition of protons on S donors, accompanied by the intermolecular exchange of the fac‐[Ir(aet)₃] units. Complexes [ 1 ]²⁺, [ 2 ]³⁺, and [ 3 ]⁴⁺, isolated as BF₄^? salts, were fully characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography.     

Oxygen Reduction with a Bifunctional Iridium Dihydride Complex

The iridium dihydride [Ir(H)₂(HPNP)]⁺ (PNP=N(CH₂CH₂PtBu₂)₂) reacts with O₂ to give the unusual, square‐planar iridium(III) hydroxide [Ir(OH)(PNP)]⁺ and water. Regeneration of the dihydride with H₂ closes a quasi‐catalytic synthetic oxygen‐reduction reaction (ORR) cycle that can be run several times. Experimental and computational examinations are in agreement with an oxygenation mechanism via rate‐limiting O₂ coordination followed by H‐transfer at a single metal site, facilitated by the cooperating pincer ligand. Hence, the four electrons required for the ORR are stored within the two covalent M? H bonds of a mononuclear metal complex.     

Robust Tris‐Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Phosphors with Ligands for Effective Charge Carrier Injection/Transport: Synthesis,Redox, Photophysical,and Electrophosphorescent Behavior

With the target to design and develop new functionalized green triplet light emitters that possess distinctive electronic properties for robust and highly efficient phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (PHOLEDs), a series of bluish–green to yellow–green phosphorescent tris‐cyclometalated homoleptic iridium(III) complexes [Ir(ppy‐X)₃] (X=SiPh₃, GePh₃, NPh₂, POPh₂, OPh, SPh, SO₂Ph, Hppy=2‐phenylpyridine) have been synthesized and fully characterized by spectroscopic, redox, and photophysical methods. By chemically manipulating the lowest triplet‐state character of Ir(ppy)₃ with some functional main‐group 14–16 moieties on the phenyl ring of ppy, a new family of metallophosphors with high‐emission quantum yields, short triplet‐state lifetimes, and good hole‐injection/hole‐transporting or electron‐injection/electron‐transporting properties can be obtained. Remarkably, all of these Ir^III complexes show outstanding electrophosphorescent performance in multilayer doped devices that surpass that of the state‐of‐the‐art green‐emitting dopant Ir(ppy)₃. The devices described herein can reach the maximum external quantum efficiency (η_ext) of 12.3 %, luminance efficiency (η_L) of 50.8 cd A^?1, power efficiency (η_p) of 36.9 Lm W^?1 for [Ir(ppy‐SiPh₃)₃], 13.9 %, 60.8 cd A^?1, 49.1 Lm W^?1 for [Ir(ppy‐NPh₂)₃], and 10.1 %, 37.6 cd A^?1, 26.1 Lm W^?1 for [Ir(ppy‐SO₂Ph)₃]. These results provide a completely new and effective strategy for carrier injection into the electrophosphor to afford high‐performance PHOLEDs suitable for various display applications.     

Homoleptic Tris(Pyridyl Pyrazolate) IrIII Complexes: En Route to Highly Efficient Phosphorescent OLEDs

Treatment of the metal reagent IrCl₃ ? nH₂O with two equivalents of 2‐pyridyl pyrazole (N^N)H (3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(2‐pyridyl) pyrazole, (bppz)H and 3‐trifluoromethyl‐5‐(2‐pyridyl) pyrazole, (fppz)H), afforded the isomeric Ir^III metal complexes with a general formula cis‐[Ir(bppz)₂Cl₂]H ( 2 a ), trans‐[Ir(bppz)₂Cl₂]H ( 3 a ), cis‐[Ir(fppz)₂Cl₂]H ( 2 b ), and trans‐[Ir(fppz)₂Cl₂]H ( 3 b ). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies on 2 b and 3 a revealed the coexistence of two pyrazolate chelates and two terminal chloride ligands on the coordination sphere. Subsequent reactivity studies confirmed their intermediacy to the preparation of homoleptic mer‐[Ir(bppz)₃] ( 1 a ) and mer‐[Ir(fppz)₃] ( 1 b ) that showed dual intraligand and ligand‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer phosphorescence at room temperature. To attain bright, room‐temperature phosphorescence further, we then synthesized two isoquinolinyl pyrazolate complexes, mer‐[Ir(bipz)₃] ( 4 a ) and mer‐[Ir(fipz)₃] ( 4 b ) ((bipz)H=3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(1‐isoquinolyl) pyrazole and (fipz)H=3‐trifluoromethyl‐5‐(1‐isoquinolyl) pyrazole). Their orange luminescence is mainly attributed to the mixed MLCT/ππ* transition, and the quantum yields were as high as 86 ( 4 a ) and 50 % ( 4 b ) in degassed CH₂Cl₂ solution at RT. The organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) were then fabricated by using 4 a as a dopant, giving orange luminescence with CIE_x,y=0.55, 0.45 (CIE_x,y=the 1931 Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage (x,y) coordinates) and peak efficiencies of 14.6 % photon/electron, 34.8 cd A^?1, 26.1 lm W^?1. The device data were then compared with the previously reported heteroleptic complex [Ir(dfpz)₂(bipz)] ( 5 ) ((dfpz)H=1‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl) pyrazole), revealing the possible effect of the bipz chelate and phosphor design on the overall electrophosphorescent performance, which can be understood by the differences in the carrier‐transport properties.     

meso‐(2‐Pyridyl)‐boron(III)‐subporphyrin: Perimeter Iridium(III) Coordination

Peripherally metalated porphyrinoids are promising functional π‐systems displaying characteristic optical, electronic, and catalytic properties. In this work, 5‐(2‐pyridyl)‐ and 5,10,15‐tri(2‐pyridyl)‐B^III‐subporphyrins were prepared and used to produce cyclometalated subporphyrins by reactions with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂, which proceeded through an efficient C?H activation to give the corresponding mono‐ and tri‐Ir^III complexes, respectively. While the mono‐Ir^III complex was obtained as a diastereomeric mixture, a C₃‐symmetric tri‐Ir^III complex with the three Cp*‐units all at the concave side was predominantly obtained in a high yield of 90 %, which displays weak NIR phosphorescence even at room temperature in degassed CH₂Cl₂, differently from the mono‐Ir^III complexes.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Heterobimetallic Tantalum–Rhodium and Tantalum–Iridium Complexes Connected by a Tantalacyclopentadiene Fragment

We report the synthesis of heterobimetallic Ta–Rh and Ta–Ir complexes bridged by a 2,5‐di‐tert‐butyltantalacyclopentadiene fragment. A mononuclear 2,5‐di‐tert‐butyltantalacyclopentadiene complex 2 was prepared by the reaction of (η²‐Me₃SiC≡CSiMe₃)TaCl₃(dme) ( 1 ) with excess amounts of 3,3‐dimethylbut‐1‐yne in the presence of AlCl₃. The tantalacyclopentadiene moiety of complex 2 served as a η⁴‐diene unit for coordinating the Rh and Ir centers; treatment of 2 with [M(μ‐Cl)(cod)]₂ (M = Rh and Ir; cod = cycloocta‐1,5‐diene) in toluene gave TaRh(μ‐C₄H₂^tBu₂)Cl₄(cod) ( 3 ) and [TaIr(μ‐C₄H₂^tBu₂)Cl₄]₂ ( 5 ), respectively. The X‐Ray diffraction study of 3 revealed a dative bond from an electron‐rich Rh toward an electron‐deficient Ta. Upon dissolving 3 in THF, [(thf)TaRh(μ‐C₄H₂^tBu₂)Cl₃]₂(μ‐Cl)₂ ( 4 ) was isolated together with free cycloocta‐1,5‐diene. When complex 5 was treated with 1,2‐bis‐(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), a monomeric Ta–Ir complex, TaIr(μ‐C₄H₂^tBu₂)Cl₄(dppe) ( 6 ), was isolated. Ta–Rh and Ta–Ir heterobimetallic complexes 3 and 6 were reduced by a two‐electron process upon reaction with 2,3,5,6‐tetramethyl‐1,4‐bis(trimethylsilyl)‐1,4‐dihydropyrazine ( 7a : Si‐Me₄‐DHP) or 2,5‐dimethyl‐1,4‐bis(trimethylsilyl)‐1,4‐dihydropyrazine ( 7b : Si‐Me₂‐DHP) to afford the corresponding complexes TaM(μ‐C₄H₂^tBu₂)Cl₂(L) ( 8 : M = Rh, L = cod; 9 : M = Ir, L = dppe), where the metallacycle moiety was assigned to have a tantalacyclopentadiene fragment with a large contribution of a tantalacyclopentatriene canonical form.     

Cationic Iridium(III) Complex Containing both Triarylboron and Carbazole Moieties as a Ratiometric Fluoride Probe That Utilizes a Switchable Triplet–Singlet Emission

A novel cationic Ir^III complex [Ir(Bpq)₂(CzbpyCz)]PF₆ (Bpq=2‐[4‐(dimesitylboryl)phenyl]quinoline, CzbpyCz = 5,5′‐bis(9‐hexyl‐9H‐carbazol‐3‐yl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine) containing both triarylboron and carbazole moieties was synthesized. The excited‐state properties of [Ir(Bpq)₂(CzbpyCz)]PF₆ were investigated through UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy and molecular‐orbital calculations. This complex displayed highly efficient orange‐red phosphorescent emission with an emission peak of 583 nm and quantum efficiency of Φ=0.30 in dichloromethane at room temperature. The binding of fluoride ions to [Ir(Bpq)₂(CzbpyCz)]PF₆ can quench the phosphorescent emission from the Ir^III complex and enhance the fluorescent emission from the N^N ligand, which corresponds to a visual change in the emission from orange‐red to blue. Thus, both colorimetric and ratiometric fluoride sensing can be realized. Interestingly, an unusual intense absorption band in the visible region was observed. And the detection of F^? ions can also be carried out with visible light as the excitation wavelength. More importantly, the linear response of the probe absorbance change at λ=351 nm versus the concentration of F^? ions allows efficient and accurate quantification of F^? ions in the range 0–50 μM .     

The Versatile Coordination Modes of Monophosphine‐o‐Carborane in the Formation of Iridium and Rhodium Complexes: Synthesis,Reactivity, and Characterization

Monophosphine‐o‐carborane has four competitive coordination modes when it coordinates to metal centers. To explore the structural transitions driven by these competitive coordination modes, a series of monophosphine‐o‐carborane Ir,Rh complexes were synthesized and characterized. [Cp*M(Cl)₂{1‐(PPh₂)‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₁}] (M=Ir ( 1 a ), Rh ( 1 b ); Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅), [Cp*Ir(H){7‐(PPh₂)‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₁}] ( 2 a ), and [1‐(PPh₂)‐3‐(η⁵‐Cp*)‐3,1,2‐MC₂B₉H₁₀] (M=Ir ( 3 a ), Rh ( 3 b )) can be all prepared directly by the reaction of 1‐(PPh₂)‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₁ with dimeric complexes [(Cp*MCl₂)₂] (M=Ir, Rh) under different conditions. Compound 3 b was treated with AgOTf (OTf=CF₃SO₃^?) to afford the tetranuclear metallacarborane [Ag₂(thf)₂(OTf)₂{1‐(PPh₂)‐3‐(η⁵‐Cp*)‐3,1,2‐RhC₂B₉H₁₀}₂] ( 4 b ). The arylphosphine group in 3 a and 3 b was functionalized by elemental sulfur (1 equiv) in the presence of Et₃N to afford [1‐{(S)PPh₂}‐3‐(η⁵‐Cp*)‐3,1,2‐MC₂B₉H₁₀] (M=Ir ( 5 a ), Rh ( 5 b )). Additionally, the 1‐(PPh₂)‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₁ ligand was functionalized by elemental sulfur (2 equiv) and then treated with [(Cp*IrCl₂)₂], thus resulting in two 16‐electron complexes [Cp*Ir(7‐{(S)PPh₂}‐8‐S‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₉)] ( 6 a ) and [Cp*Ir(7‐{(S)PPh₂}‐8‐S‐9‐OCH₃‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₉)] ( 7 a ). Compound 6 a further reacted with nBuPPh₂, thereby leading to 18‐electron complex [Cp*Ir(nBuPPh₂)(7‐{(S)PPh₂}‐8‐S‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₀)] ( 8 a ). The influences of other factors on structural transitions or the formation of targeted compounds, including reaction temperature and solvent, were also explored.     

Iridium(iii)-(hydrido)cyclometallated-imine complexes and metal-promoted hydrolytic cleavage of imines

The room temperature reaction of the complex cis,trans,cis-[Ir(H)₂(PPh₃)₂(Solv)₂]PF₆ (Solv is a solvent) with the imine PhCH₂N=CHPh in acetone generates (with loss of H₂) the orthometallated complex [Ir(H){PhCH₂N=CH(o-C₆H₄)}(PPh₃)₂(Me₂CO)]PF₆ (3) containing a five-membered cyclometallated imine moiety. In MeOH, the reaction at an imine : Ir ratio = 1 leads to the corresponding MeOH analog of 3, while with excess imine, the mixed orthometallated imine/bezylamine complex [Ir(H){PhCH₂N=CH(o-C₆H₄)}(PPh₃)₂(PhCH₂NH₂)]PF₂ (4) is formed; the source of the coordinated amine is an Ir-promoted hydrolysis of the imine, the water likely coming from imine. Complexes 3 and 4 are fully characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystal structure analysis.     

Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence from a Stoichiometric Ruthenium(II)–Iridium(III) Complex Soft Salt

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and electrochemistry are reported for a heterometallic soft salt, [Ru(dtbubpy)₃][Ir(ppy)₂(CN)₂]₂ ( [Ir][Ru][Ir] ), consisting of a 2:1 ratio of complementary charged Ru and Ir complexes possessing two different emission colors. The [Ru]²⁺ and [Ir]^? moieties in the [Ir][Ru][Ir] greatly reduce the energy required to produce ECL. Though ECL intensity in the annihilation path was enhanced 18× relative to that of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, ECL in the co‐reactant path with tri‐n‐propylamine was enhanced a further 4×. Spooling spectroscopy gives insight into ECL mechanisms: the unique light emission at 634 nm is due to the [Ru]²⁺* excited state and no [Ir]^?* was generated in either route. Overall, the soft salt system is anticipated to be attractive and suitable for the development of efficient and low‐energy‐cost ECL detection systems.     

Synthesis of [Ir3Rh(CO)12] and Fluxional Behaviour of Some of Its Substituted Derivatives

The redox condensation of [Ir(CO)₄]^–, [Ir(cod)(THF)₂]⁺, and [Rh(cod)(THF)₂]⁺ (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) followed by saturation with CO (1 atm) in THF afforded the first synthetic route to pure [Ir₃Rh(CO)₁₂] ( 1 ). Substitution of CO by monodentate ligands gave [Ir₃Rh(CO)₈(μ₂-CO)₃L] (L = Br^–, 2 ; I^–, 3 ; bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 4 ; PPh₃, 5 ). Clusters 2 – 5 have C_s symmetry with the ligand L bound to the basal Rh-atom in axial position. They are fluxional in solution at the NMR time scale due to two CO scrambling processes: the merry-go-round of basal CO's and changes of basal face. An additional process takes place in 5 above room temperature: the intramolecular migration of PPh₃ from the Rh- to a basal Ir-atom. Substitution of CO by polydentate ligands gave [Ir₃Rh(CO)_7–x(μ₂-CO)₃(η⁴-L)x] (L = bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (= norbornadiene; nbd), x = 1, 6 ; L = nbd, x = 2, 13 ; L = cod, x = 1, 7 ; L = cod x = 2, 15 ), [Ir₃Rh(CO)₇(μ₂-CO)₃(η²-diars)] (diars = 1,2-phenylenebis-(dimethylarsine); 8 ), [Ir₃Rh(CO)₇(μ₂-CO)₃(η⁴-L)] (L = methylenebis(diphenylphosphine), bonded to 2 basal Ir-atom ( 9a ) or one Ir- and one Rh-atom ( 9b )), [Ir₃Rh(CO)₆(μ₂-CO)₃(η⁴-nbd)PPh₃] ( 12 ), and [Ir₃Rh(CO)₆(μ₂-CO)₃(μ₃-L)] (L = 1,3,5-trithiane, 10 ; L = CH(PPh₂)₃, 11 ). Complexes 6 – 8 , 9a , 10 , and 11 have C_s symmetry, the others C₁ symmetry. They are fluxional in solution due to CO scrambling processes involving 1, 3, or 4 metal centres as deduced from 2D-EXSY spectra. Comparison of the activation energies of these processes with those of the isostructural Ir₄ and Ir₂Rh₂ compounds showed that substitution of Ir by Rh in the basal face of an Ir₄ compound slows the processes involving 3 or 4 metal centres (merry-go-round and change of basal face), but increases the rate of carbonyl rotation about an Ir-atom.     

A mixed‐valence chloride‐bridged (pincer)IrIII–(diene)IrI complex

The title compound, [2,6‐bis(di‐tert‐butylphosphino)phenyl‐1κ³P,C¹,P′]di‐μ‐chlorido‐1:2κ⁴Cl:Cl‐(2η⁴‐cycloocta‐2,5‐diene)hydrido‐1κH‐diiridium(I,III) hexane hemisolvate, [Ir₂(C₈H₁₂)(C₂₄H₄₃P₂)Cl₂H]·0.5C₆H₁₄ or [(^tBuPCP)IrH(μ₂‐Cl)₂Ir(COD)][^tBuPCP is κ³‐2,6‐(^tBu₂PCH₂)₂C₆H₃ and COD is η⁴‐2,5‐cyclooctadiene], is an Ir^III/Ir^I dimer bridged by two chloride ions. The Ir₂Cl₂ framework is nearly planar, with a dihedral angle of 13.04 (4)° between the two Ir centers. The compound was isolated as a hexane hemisolvate. A list of distances found in Ir(PCP) compounds is given.     

Unveiling Photodeactivation Pathways for a New Iridium(III) Cyclometalated Complex

We report the synthesis and characterization of a neutral heteroleptic Ir^III complex bearing 6‐fluoro‐2‐phenylbenzo[d]thiazole as cyclometalating ligand and (Z)‐6‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)‐5‐hydroxy‐2,2‐dimethylhex‐4‐en‐3‐one as ancillary ligand. The photodeactivation mechanisms have been elucidated through extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The active role of metal‐centered (³MC) triplet excited states in the nonradiative deactivation pathways is, for first time, confirmed in such complexes.     

Iridium(III) Complexes Bearing Pyrene‐Functionalized 1,10‐Phenanthroline Ligands as Highly Efficient Sensitizers for Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion

“Chemistry‐on‐the‐complex” synthetic methods have allowed the selective addition of 1‐ethynylpyrene appendages to the 3‐, 5‐, 3,8‐ and 5,6‐positions of Ir^III‐coordinated 1,10‐phenanthroline via Sonogashira cross‐coupling. The resulting suite of complexes has given rise to the first rationalization of their absorption and emission properties as a function of the number and position of the pyrene moieties. Strong absorption in the visible region (e.g. 3,8‐substituted Ir‐3 : λ_abs=481 nm, ?=52 400 m ^?1 cm^?1) and long‐lived triplet excited states (e.g. 5‐substituted Ir‐2 : τ_T=367.7 μs) were observed for the complexes in deaerated CH₂Cl₂. On testing the series as triplet sensitizers for triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion, those Ir^III complexes bearing pyrenyl appendages at the 3‐ and 3,8‐positions ( Ir‐1 , Ir‐3 ) were found to give optimal upconversion quantum yields (30.2 % and 31.6 % respectively).     

Synthese und Struktur von Ammin- und Amidokomplexen des Iridiums

Synthesis and Structure of Ammine and Amido Complexes of Iridium The reaction of (NH₄)₂[IrCl₆] with NH₄Cl at 300 °C in a sealed glass ampoule yields the iridium(III) ammine complex (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅], which crystallizes isotypically with K₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with Z = 4, and a = 1350.0(2); b = 1028.5(3); c = 689.6(2) pm. The reaction of (NH₄)₂[IrCl₆] with NH₃ at 300 °C, however, gives the already known [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ beside a small amount of [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl₂. In pure form [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ is obtained by ammonolysis of (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] at 300 °C with NH₃. [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl₂ crystallizes triclinic (P1, Z = 1, a = 660,2(3); b = 680,4(3); c = 711,1(2) pm; α = 103,85(2)°, β = 114,54(3)°, γ = 112,75(2)°). The structure contains Cl^– anions and [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]²⁺ cations with a trans position of the Cl atoms. Upon reaction of [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ with Cl₂ one ammine ligand is eliminated yielding [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl, which is transformed to orthorhombic [Ir(NH₃)₄(OH₂)Cl]Cl₂ (Pnma, Z = 4, a = 1335,1(3); b = 1047,9(2); c = 673,4(2) pm) by crystallization from water. In the octahedral complex [Ir(NH₃)₄(OH₂)Cl]²⁺ the four ammine ligands have an equatorial position, whereas the Cl atom and the aqua ligand are arranged axial. Oxidation of (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] with Cl₂ at 330 °C affords the tetragonal Ir^IV complex (NH₄)[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] (P4nc, Z = 2, a = 702.68(5); c = 912.89(9) pm). Its structure was determined using the powder diagram. Oxidation of (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] with Br₂ in water, on the other hand, gives (NH₄)₂[IrBr₆] crystallizing in the K₂[PtCl₆] type. Oxidation of (PPh₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] with PhI(OAc)₂ in CH₂Cl₂ affords the Ir^V amido complex (PPh₄)[Ir(NH₂)Cl₅].     

Trifluoromethyl and mixed hydrido trifluoromethyl complexes of iridium(III) as potential precursors of an iridium(I) trifluoromethyl complex

Abstraction of iodide from Ir(CF₃)ClI(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (1) by AgSbF₆ in the presence of acetonitrile yields the cationic complex [Ir(CF₃)Cl(MeCN)(CO)(PPh₃)₂]⁺ [SbF₆]⁻ (2). The acetonitrile group of 2 is readily displaced, and 2 reacts with para-tolyl isocyanide to yield [Ir(CF₃)Cl(CN-p-tolyl)(CO)(PPh₃)₂]⁺ [SbF₆]⁻ (3). The addition of NaOMe to 3 results in the methoxyester complex Ir(CF₃)(COOMe)Cl(CN-p-tolyl) (PPh₃)₂ (4). The acetonitrile ligand of 2 is also displaced by anions, including H⁻. Thus, 2 reacts with LiEt₃BH to give Ir(CF₃)HCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (5), in which the hydrido and trifluoromethyl ligands are mutually trans. In contrast, the addition of excess NaBH₄ to 2 affords the novel dihydrido complex trans-Ir(CF3)H₂(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (6). Investigations into the potential use of 5 and 6 as precursors of an iridium(I) complex such as Ir(CF₃)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ are also described.     

Red‐ and Green‐Emitting Iridium(III) Complexes for a Dual Barometric and Temperature‐Sensitive Paint

A new dual luminescent sensitive paint for barometric pressure and temperature (T) is presented. The green‐emitting iridium(III) complex [Ir(ppy)₂(carbac)] (ppy=2‐phenylpyridine; carbac=1‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)‐5,5‐dimethylhexane‐2,4‐dione) was applied as a novel probe for T along with the red‐emitting complex [Ir(btpy)₃], (btpy=2‐(benzo[b]thiophene‐2‐yl)pyridine) which functions as a barometric (in fact oxygen‐sensitive) probe. Both iridium complexes were dissolved in different polymer materials to achieve optimal responses. The probe [Ir(ppy)₂(carbac)] was dispersed in gas‐blocking poly(acrylonitrile) microparticles in order to suppress any quenching of its luminescence by oxygen. The barometric probe [Ir(btpy)₃], in turn, was incorporated in a cellulose acetate butyrate film which exhibits good permeability for oxygen. The effects of temperature on the response of the oxygen probe can be corrected by simultaneous optical determination of T, as the poly(acrylonitrile) microparticles containing the temperature indicator are incorporated into the film. The phosphorescent signals of the probes for T and barometric pressure, respectively, can be separated by optical filters due to the ≈75 nm difference in their emission maxima. The dual sensor is applicable to luminescence lifetime imaging of T and barometric pressure. It is the first luminescent dual sensor material for barometric pressure/T based exclusively on the use of Ir^III complexes in combination with luminescence lifetime imaging.     

Blue Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence from Water‐Soluble Iridium Complexes Containing Sulfonated Phenylpyridine or Tetraethylene Glycol Derivatized Triazolylpyridine Ligands

Incorporating phenylpyridine‐ and triazolylpyridine‐based ligands decorated with methylsulfonate or tetraethylene glycol (TEG) groups, a series of iridium(III) complexes has been created for green and blue electrogenerated chemiluminescence under analytically useful aqueous conditions, with tri‐n‐propylamine as a coreactant. The relative electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensities of the complexes were dependent on the sensitivity of the photodetector over the wavelength range and the pulse time of the applied electrochemical potential. In terms of the integrated area of corrected ECL spectra, with a pulse time of 0.5 s, the intensities of the Ir^III complexes were between 18 and 102 % that of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine). However, when the intensities were measured with a typical bialkali photomultiplier tube, the signal of the most effective blue emitter, [Ir(df‐ppy)₂(pt‐TEG)]⁺ (df‐ppy=2‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl)pyridine anion, pt‐TEG=1‐(2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)‐4‐(2‐pyridyl)‐1,2,3‐triazole), was over 1200 % that of the orange–red emitter [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺. A combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of the Ir^III complexes indicated that the greater intensity from [Ir(df‐ppy)₂(pt‐TEG)]⁺ relative to those of the other Ir^III complexes resulted from a combination of many factors, rather than being significantly favored in one area.