Efficient electrogenerated chemiluminescence from cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes

Very efficient electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) phenomena were realized by deliberately tuning electron-transfer reactions from electrochemically generated electron donor to metal complex radical cations. By controlling the relative positions of HOMO and LUMO levels (oxidation potential and reduction potential) of Ir(III) complexes, we could obtain 77 times higher ECL from iridium(III) complexes in the presence of TPA than that of the Ru(bpy)32+/TPA system. This high ECL efficiency of new Ir(III) complexes can be used in many interesting applications such as sensors and luminescent devices.     

Functionalization of polymers with phosphorescent iridium complexes via click chemistry

We report a simple yet highly efficient route to prepare polymers with a variety of pendant iridium complexes as potential materials in organic light-emitting diodes by employing click chemistry.     

Bright blue phosphorescence from cationic bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) isocyanide complexes

We report new bis-cyclometalated cationic iridium(III) complexes [(C(^)N)(2)Ir(CN-tert-Bu)(2)](CF(3)SO(3)) that have tert-butyl isocyanides as neutral auxiliary ligands and 2-phenylpyridine or 2-(4'-fluorophenyl)-R-pyridines (where R is 4-methoxy, 4-tert-butyl, or5-trifluoromethyl) as C(^)N ligands. The complexes are white or pale yellow solids that show irreversible reduction and oxidation processes and have a large electrochemical gap of 3.58-3.83 V. They emit blue or blue-green phosphorescence in liquid/solid solutions from a cyclometalating-ligand-centered excited state. Their emission spectra show vibronic structure with the highest-energy luminescence peak at 440-459 nm. The corresponding quantum yields and observed excited-state lifetimes are up to 76% and 46 μs, respectively, and the calculated radiative lifetimes are in the range of 46-82 μs. In solution, the photophysical properties of the complexes are solvent-independent, and their emission color is tuned by variation of the substituents in the cyclometalating ligand. For most of the complexes, an emission color red shift occurs in going from solution to neat solids. However, the shift is minimal for the complexes with bulky tert-butyl or trifluoromethyl groups on the cyclometalating ligands that prevent aggregation. We report the first example of an iridium(III) isocyanide complex that emits blue phosphorescence not only in solution but also as a neat solid.     

Some electrochemically generated elemento-organicradical ions and metal complexes as studied by esr

ESR spectra have been obtained for the radical anions Ph_nEl^XXX , where El = P, Si or As, and also for substituted nitrobenzenes. Radical anions were generated by electrochemical reduction within a microwave cavity. The nature and stability of radical ions and other paramagnetic species were established by the investigation of the electrochemical behaviour of the substances. The spin density distribution shows that atoms of the elements in Ph_nEl^XXX are not to be taken as “isolating bridges”. Spin density distributions have also been established for other radical ions.Paramagnetic complexes Mo^V and W^V have been prepared by electrochemical reduction of appropriate molybdenum and tungsten compounds and their structure and magnetic parameters have been established.     

Green chemiluminescence from a bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) complex with an ancillary bathophenanthroline disulfonate ligand

The reaction of a fluorinated iridium complex with cerium(IV) and organic reducing agents generates an intense emission with a significant hypsochromic shift compared to contemporary chemically-initiated luminescence from metal complexes.     

A chemiluminescence method for the detection of electrochemically generated H2O2 and ferryl porphyrin

Electrochemical formation of H2O2 and the subsequent ferryl porphyrin were examined by measuring luminol chemiluminescence and absorption spectrum using flow-injection method. Emission was observed under the cathodic potential (0.05 V at pH 2.0 and -0.3 V at pH 11.0) by the electrochemical reduction of buffer electrolytes solution but no emission was observed at anodic potentials. Fe(III)TMPyP solution was added at the down stream of the working electrode and was essential for the emission. Removal of dissolved O2 resulted in the decrease of emission intensity by more than 70%. In order to examine the lifetime of reduced active species, delay tubes were used in between working electrode and Fe(III)TMPyP inlet. Experimental results suggested the active species were stable for quite long. The emission was quenched considerably (>90%) when hydroperoxy catalase was added at the down stream of the working electrode whereas SOD had little effect. Significant inhibition of the emission by the addition of alkene at the down stream of the Fe(III)TMPyP inlet was considered as evidence of oxo-ferryl formation. The spectra at reduction potential under aerated condition were shifted to the longer wavelength (>430 nm) compared to the original spectrum of Fe(III)TMPyP (422 nm). All the spectra were perfectly reproduced by a combination of Fe(III)TMPyP and O=Fe(IV)TMPyP (438 nm) spectra. These observations lead to the conclusion that H2O2 was produced first by electrochemical reduction of O2, which then converted Fe(III)TMPyP into O=Fe(IV)TMPyP to activate luminol. The current efficiencies for the formation of H2O2 were estimated as about 30-65% in all over the pH.     

Theoretical studies of the spectroscopic properties of blue emitting iridium complexes

Electronic structures, absorptions and emissions of a series of (ppy)₂Ir(acac) derivatives (ppy = 2- phenylpyridine; acac = acetoylacetonate) with fluoro substituent on ppy ligands were investigated theoretically. The ground and excited states geometries were fully optimized at B3LYP/LANL2DZ and CIS/LANL2DZ level, respectively. The HOMO is composed of d(Ir) and π(C^∧N), while the LUMO is localized on C^∧N ligand. The absorptions and emissions in CH₂Cl₂ media were calculated under the TD–DFT level with PCM model. The lowest-lying absorption of these complexes is dominantly attributed to metal-to-ligand and intraligand charge transfer (MLCT/ILCT) transitions and the emission of them originates from ³MLCT/³ILCT excited states. The absorption and emission of these complexes are blue-shifted by increasing the number of fluoro on phenyl, but the spectra are red-shifted by adding fluoro on pyridyl. While a single fluoro of different substituted site on phenyl results in different extent blue-shift to the spectra.     

Syntheses and phosphorescent properties of blue emissive iridium complexes with tridentate pyrazolyl ligands

Novel neutral mixed-ligand Ir(N=C=N)(N=C)X complexes (N=C=N = 1,3-bis(3-methylpyrazolyl)benzene (bpzb), 1,5-dimethyl-2,4-bis(3-methylpyrazolyl)benzene (dmbpzb), and 1,5-difluoro-2,4-bis(3-methylpyrazolyl)benzene (dfbpzb); N=C = 2-phenyl pyridine (ppy); and X = Cl or CN) have been synthesized and characterized. An X-ray single-crystal structure of the complex Ir(dmbpzb)(ppy)Cl shows that the nitrogen atom in the ppy ligand occupied the trans position to the carbon atom in the tridentate N=C=N ligand of dmbpzb with the Ir-C bond length of 1.94(1) A, whereas the coordinating carbon atom occupied the trans position of chlorine. Electrochemical data show that the complexes exhibit an oxidation Ir(III/IV) process in the potential range of +0.5 approximately 0.9 V and two irreversible reductions at approximately -2.6 and -3.0 V against Fc (0)/Fc (+), respectively. All of the Ir(III) complexes do not emit phosphorescence at room temperature, although strong phosphorescence is exhibited at 77 K with the 0-0 transition centered at around 450 nm and lifetimes of 3-14 mus. DFT calculations indicate that the HOMOs are mainly localized on iridium 5dpi and chlorine ppi*, whereas the LUMOs are mainly from the ppy ligand pi* orbitals. The phosphorescence originates from a (3)LC state mixed with the (3)MLCT and (3)XLCT ones. Temperature-dependent lifetime measurements of Ir(dfbpzb)(ppy)Cl reveal the existence of a thermal deactivation process with a low activation energy (1720 cm (-1)) and very high frequency factor (2.3 x 10 (13) s (-1)). An unrestricted density functional theory indicates that the dd state, in which both the Ir-N (pyrazolyl) bond lengths increase considerably, exists almost at the same energy as that for the phosphorescent state. A thorough analysis based on the potential energy surfaces for the T 1 and S 0 states allows us to determine the reaction pathway responsible for this thermal deactivation. The calculated activation energies of 1600 approximately 1800 cm (-1) are in excellent agreement with the observed values.     

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.     

Deep blue luminescent cyclometallated 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene iridium(iii) complexes

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Growth of p- and n-dopable films from electrochemically generated C60 cations

The formidable electron-acceptor properties of C60 contrast with its difficult oxidations. Only recently it has become possible to achieve reversibility of more than one electrochemical anodic process versus the six reversible cathodic reductions. Here we exploit the reactivity of electrochemical oxidations of pure C60 to grow a film of high thermal and mechanical stability on the anode. The new material differs remarkably from its precursor since it conducts both electrons and holes. Its growth and properties are consistently characterized by a host of techniques that include atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman and infrared spectroscopies, X-ray-photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), and a variety of electrochemical measurements.     

High-efficiency blue OLEDs based on dendritic dinuclear iridium (III) complexes grafted with fluorene core and blue fluorescence chromospheres

Two novel dendrimer-like blue-emitting dinuclear cyclometalated iridium (III) complexes, namely (DNaTPA)₂DBF(FIrpic)₂ and (DPyTPA)₂DBF(FIrpic)₂, have been successfully synthesized and characterized. In which FIrpic is an iridium (III) bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato-N,C2′]picolate blue-emitting phosphorescent chromophore core, DBF is a 2,7-diphenyl-9H-fluorene bridging core, DNaTPA and DPyTPA are deep blue-emitting fluorescent chromophores composed by rigid high-triplet-energy dendrons of triphenylamine-functionalized naphthalene or pyrene units, and the peripheral dendrons are connected with the ancillary ligand of the emitting core through nonconjugated ether linkage. Their photophysical, thermal, electrochemical, as well as electrophosphorescent properties were primarily studied. Both iridium (III) complexes exhibit high efficient blue emission in solution (38.5% and 19.2%) and a typical FIrpic emission in 1,3-bis(N-carbzolyl)benzene (mCP) matrix (27.0% and 24.1%). Simple bilayer phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/mCP:dopants/TmPyPB/Liq/Al achieved high efficiencies of 12.96 cd/A for current efficiency (CE), 6162 cd/m² for brightness, 6.22% for external quantum efficiency (EQE), and 3.13 lm/W for power efficiency (PE) with Commission International de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.19 ± 0.01, 0.35 ± 0.02) at only 2 wt% blend of (DNaTPA)₂DBF(FIrpic)₂. (DPyTPA)₂DBF(FIrpic)₂-doped devices also reach efficiencies of (9.14 cd/A, 7167 cd/m², 4.41%, 2.61 lm/W) at the same doping concentration. The results demonstrate that the introduction of dendritic blue-emitting fluorescent chromophore grafted into the blue phosphorescent chromosphere core through nonconjugated linkage is an efficient way to achieve high-efficiency sky-blue emission.     

Tuning iridium(III) phenylpyridine complexes in the "almost blue" region

We report on the synthesis and photophysical properties of blue emitting iridium(iii) complexes. The use of a negatively charged ligand, such as a triazolyl pyridine, allows a facile preparation, maintaining the high energy emission (blue region) of heteroleptic complexes. We discuss the role played by electron withdrawing substituents of a different nature and also how the substitution position of the same group influences the spectroscopical behaviour.     

A theoretical study: Green phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes with low-efficiency roll-off

A series of heterocyclic Ir(III) complexes used in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials with low-efficiency roll-off performance have been studied theoretically. Their electronic structures, spectral properties, and their application value in OLEDs are discussed. The geometries, electronic structures, lowest-lying singlet absorptions, and triplet emissions of (dmdppr-dmp)₂Ir(dibm), and the theoretically designed models of (dmdppr-dmp)₂Ir(acac), (dmdppr-dmp)₂Ir(tpip), (dmdppr-Fdmp)₂Ir(dibm), (dmdppr-Fdmp)₂Ir(acac), and (dmdppr-Fdmp)₂Ir(tpip) were investigated with density-functional-theory-based approaches, where dibm denotes 2,6-dimethy-3,5-heptanedionato-κ₂-O,O′, acac denotes acetylacetonate, and tpip denotes tetraphenylimido-diphosphinate.     

Dihydrogen complexes of iridium and rhodium

A series of iridium and rhodium pincer complexes have been synthesized and characterized: [(POCOP)Ir(H)(H(2))] [BAr(f)(4)] (1-H(3)), (POCOP)Rh(H(2)) (2-H(2)), [(PONOP)Ir(C(2)H(4))] [BAr(f)(4)] (3-C(2)H(4)), [(PONOP)Ir(H)(2))] [BAr(f)(4)] (3-H(2)), [(PONOP)Rh(C(2)H(4))] [BAr(f)(4)] (4-C(2)H(4)) and [(PONOP)Rh(H(2))] [BAr(f)(4)] (4-H(2)) (POCOP = κ(3)-C(6)H(3)-2,6-[OP(tBu)(2)](2); PONOP = 2,6-(tBu(2)PO)(2)C(5)H(3)N; BAr(f)(4) = tetrakis(3,5-trifluoromethylphenyl)borate). The nature of the dihydrogen-metal interaction was probed using NMR spectroscopic studies. Complexes 1-H(3), 2-H(2), and 4-H(2) retain the H-H bond and are classified as η(2)-dihydrogen adducts. In contrast, complex 3-H(2) is best described as a classical dihydride system. The presence of bound dihydrogen was determined using both T(1) and (1)J(HD) coupling values: T(1) = 14 ms, (1)J(HD) = 33 Hz for the dihydrogen ligand in 1-H(3), T(1)(min) = 23 ms, (1)J(HD) = 32 Hz for 2-H(2), T(1)(min) = 873 ms for 3-H(2), T(1)(min) = 33 ms, (1)J(HD) = 30.1 Hz for 4-H(2).     

Synthesis, characterization, and DFT/TD-DFT calculations of highly phosphorescent blue light-emitting anionic iridium complexes

Highly phosphorescent blue-light-emitting anionic iridium complexes (C4H9)4N[Ir(2-phenylpyridine)2(CN)2] (1), (C4H9)4N[Ir(2-phenyl-4-dimethylaminopyridine)2(CN)2] (2), (C4H9)4N[Ir(2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-pyridine)2(CN)2] (3), (C4H9)4N[Ir(2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-4-dimethylaminopyridine)2(CN)2] (4), and (C4H9)4N[Ir(2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-4-dimethylaminopyridine)2(CN)2] (5) were synthesized and characterized using NMR, UV-vis absorption, and emission spectroscopy and electrochemical methods. In these complexes color and quantum yield tuning aspects are demonstrated by modulating the ligands with substituting donor and acceptor groups on both the pyridine and phenyl moieties of 2-phenylpyridine. Complexes 1-5 display intense photoluminescence maxima in the blue region of the visible spectrum and exhibit very high phosphorescence quantum yields, in the range of 50-80%, with excited-state lifetimes of 1-4 micros in acetonitrile solution at 298 K. DFT and time dependent-DFT calculations were performed on the ground and excited states of the investigated complexes to provide insight into the structural, electronic, and optical properties of these systems.     

Reactions of nickel—carbene complexes generated from nickelacycle complexes

Nickel carbene species, generated from nickelacyclobutane complexes, reacted with hydrogen and carbon monoxide to give methane and ketene, respectively.