Synthetic control of excited-state properties in cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes using ancillary ligands

The synthesis and photophysical characterization of a series of (N,C(2')-(2-para-tolylpyridyl))2 Ir(LL') [(tpy)2 Ir(LL')] (LL' = 2,4-pentanedionato (acac), bis(pyrazolyl)borate ligands and their analogues, diphosphine chelates and tert-butylisocyanide (CN-t-Bu)) are reported. A smaller series of [(dfppy)2 Ir(LL')] (dfppy = N,C(2')-2-(4',6'-difluorophenyl)pyridyl) complexes were also examined along with two previously reported compounds, (ppy)2 Ir(CN)2- and (ppy)2 Ir(NCS)2- (ppy = N,C(2')-2-phenylpyridyl). The (tpy)2 Ir(PPh2CH2)2 BPh2 and [(tpy)2 Ir(CN-t-Bu)2](CF3SO3) complexes have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The Ir-C(aryl) bond lengths in (tpy)2 Ir(CN-t-Bu)2+ (2.047(5) and 2.072(5) A) and (tpy)2 Ir(PPh2CH2)2 BPh2 (2.047(9) and 2.057(9) A) are longer than their counterparts in (tpy)2 Ir(acac) (1.982(6) and 1.985(7) A). Density functional theory calculations carried out on (ppy)2 Ir(CN-Me)2+ show that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) consists of a mixture of phenyl-pi and Ir-d orbitals, while the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital is localized primarily on the pyridyl-pi orbitals. Electrochemical analysis of the (tpy)2 Ir(LL') complexes shows that the reduction potentials are largely unaffected by variation in the ancillary ligand, whereas the oxidation potentials vary over a much wider range (as much as 400 mV between two different LL' ligands). Spectroscopic analysis of the cyclometalated Ir complexes reveals that the lowest energy excited state (T1) is a triplet ligand-centered state (3LC) on the cyclometalating ligand admixed with 1MLCT (MLCT = metal-to-ligand charge-transfer) character. The different ancillary ligands alter the 1MLCT state energy mainly by changing the HOMO energy. Destabilization of the 1MLCT state results in less 1MLCT character mixed into the T1 state, which in turn leads to an increase in the emission energy. The increase in emission energy leads to a linear decrease in ln(k(nr)) (k(nr) = nonradiative decay rate). Decreased 1MLCT character in the T1 state also increases the Huang-Rhys factors in the emission spectra, decreases the extinction coefficient of the T1 transition, and consequently decreases the radiative decay rates (k(r)). Overall, the luminescence quantum yields decline with increasing emission energies. A linear dependence of the radiative decay rate (k(r)) or extinction coefficient (epsilon) on (1/deltaE)2 has been demonstrated, where deltaE is the energy difference between the 1MLCT and 3LC transitions. A value of 200 cm(-1) for the spin-orbital coupling matrix element 3LC absolute value(H(SO)) 1MLCT of the (tpy)2 Ir(LL') complexes can be deduced from this linear relationship. The (fppy)2 Ir(LL') complexes with corresponding ancillary ligands display similar trends in excited-state properties.     

Highly phosphorescent bis-cyclometalated iridium complexes: synthesis, photophysical characterization, and use in organic light emitting diodes.

The synthesis and photophysical study of a family of cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes are reported. The iridium complexes have two cyclometalated (C(**)N) ligands and a single monoanionic, bidentate ancillary ligand (LX), i.e., C(**)N2Ir(LX). The C(**)N ligands can be any of a wide variety of organometallic ligands. The LX ligands used for this study were all beta-diketonates, with the major emphasis placed on acetylacetonate (acac) complexes. The majority of the C(**)N2Ir(acac) complexes phosphoresce with high quantum efficiencies (solution quantum yields, 0.1-0.6), and microsecond lifetimes (e.g., 1-14 micros). The strongly allowed phosphorescence in these complexes is the result of significant spin-orbit coupling of the Ir center. The lowest energy (emissive) excited state in these C(**)N2Ir(acac) complexes is a mixture of (3)MLCT and (3)(pi-pi) states. By choosing the appropriate C(**)N ligand, C(**)N2Ir(acac) complexes can be prepared which emit in any color from green to red. Simple, systematic changes in the C(**)N ligands, which lead to bathochromic shifts of the free ligands, lead to similar bathochromic shifts in the Ir complexes of the same ligands, consistent with "C(**)N2Ir"-centered emission. Three of the C(**)N2Ir(acac) complexes were used as dopants for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). The three Ir complexes, i.e., bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C2')iridium(acetylacetonate) [ppy2Ir(acac)], bis(2-phenyl benzothiozolato-N,C2')iridium(acetylacetonate) [bt2Ir(acac)], and bis(2-(2'-benzothienyl)pyridinato-N,C3')iridium(acetylacetonate) [btp2Ir(acac)], were doped into the emissive region of multilayer, vapor-deposited OLEDs. The ppy2Ir(acac)-, bt2Ir(acac)-, and btp2Ir(acac)-based OLEDs give green, yellow, and red electroluminescence, respectively, with very similar current-voltage characteristics. The OLEDs give high external quantum efficiencies, ranging from 6 to 12.3%, with the ppy2Ir(acac) giving the highest efficiency (12.3%, 38 lm/W, >50 Cd/A). The btp2Ir(acac)-based device gives saturated red emission with a quantum efficiency of 6.5% and a luminance efficiency of 2.2 lm/W. These C(**)N2Ir(acac)-doped OLEDs show some of the highest efficiencies reported for organic light emitting diodes. The high efficiencies result from efficient trapping and radiative relaxation of the singlet and triplet excitons formed in the electroluminescent process.     

Selective low-temperature syntheses of facial and meridional tris-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes

We have developed a selective low-temperature synthesis of fac and mer tris-cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes. The chloro-bridged dimers [Ir(CwedgeN)2Cl]2 (CwedgeN = cyclometalating ligand) are cleaved in coordinating solvents like acetonitrile to give neutral Ir(CwedgeN)2(NCCH3)Cl species which in turn are reacted with AgPF6 to give hexafluorophosphate salts of the bis-acetonitrile species [Ir(CwedgeN)2(NCCH3)2]PF6 for CwedgeN = 2,2'-thienylpyridine (thpy) and 2-phenylpyridine (ppy). These bis-acetonitrile complexes are excellent starting materials for the synthesis of tris-Ir(III) complexes. The complexes of the general formula fac-Ir(CwedgeN)3 were synthesized with the ligands thpy and ppy at 100 degrees C in o-dichlorobenzene from the corresponding [Ir(CwedgeN)2(NCCH3)2]PF6 complexes. The reaction of [Ir(CwedgeN)2(NCCH3)2]PF6 with thpy at room temperature did not give the expected tris complex but instead gave [Ir(thpy)2(N,S-thpy)]PF6, with the third chelating ligand complexed through the sulfur atom of the thiophene ring. [Ir(thpy)2Cl]2, [Ir(ppy)2Cl]2, Ir(thpy)2(NCCH3)Cl, [Ir(thpy)2(NCCH3)2]PF6, [Ir(ppy)2(NCCH3)2]PF6, and [Ir(thpy)2(N,S-thpy)]PF6 were structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Additionally, hydroxy-bridged dimers, [Ir(CwedgeN)2(OH)]2, were synthesized as starting materials for the selective synthesis of mer-Ir(CwedgeN)3 complexes at 100 degrees C in o-dichlorobenzene. A mechanism is proposed that may account for the selectivity observed in the formation of the mer-Ir(CwedgeN)3 and fac-Ir(CwedgeN)3 isomers in previous studies and the studies presented here.     

Synthesis and characterization of phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium complexes containing 2,5‐diphenylpyridine based ligands

A series of phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium complexes with 2,5‐diphenylpyridine‐based ligands has been synthesized and characterized to investigate the effect of the simple ligand modification on photophysics, thermostability and electrochemistry. The complexes have the general structure (C^∧N)₂Ir(acac), where C^∧N is a monoanionic cyclometalating ligand [e.g. 2,5‐diphenylpyridyl (dppy), 2,5‐di(4‐methoxyphenyl)pyridyl (dmoppy), 2,5‐di(4‐ethoxyphenyl)pyridyl (deoppy) and 2,5‐di(4‐ethylphenyl)pyridyl (deppy)]. The absorption, emission, cyclic voltammetry and thermostability of the complexes were systematically investigated. The (dppy)₂Ir(acac) has been characterized using X‐ray crystallography. Calculation on the electronic ground state of (dppy)₂Ir(acac) was carried out using B3LYP density functional theory. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level is a mixture of Ir and ligand orbitals, while the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is predominantly dppy ligand‐based. Electrochemical studies showed the oxidation potentials of (dmoppy)₂Ir(acac), (deoppy)₂Ir(acac), (deppy)₂Ir(acac) were smaller than that of (ppy)₂Ir(acac), while the oxidation potential of (dppy)₂Ir(acac) was larger relative to (ppy)₂Ir(acac). The 10% weight reduction temperatures of these complexes were above that of (ppy)₂Ir(acac). All complexes exhibited intense green photoluminescence, which has been attributed to MLCT triplet emission. The maximum emission wavelengths in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature were in the range 531–544 nm, which is more red‐shifted than that of (ppy)₂Ir(acac). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

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.     

Novel dinuclear luminescent compounds based on iridium(III) cyclometalated chromophores and containing bridging ligands with ester-linked chelating sites

The syntheses and study of the spectroscopic, redox, and photophysical properties of a new set of species based on Ir(III) cyclometalated building blocks are reported. This set includes three dinuclear complexes, that is, the symmetric (with respect to the bridging ligand) diiridium species [(ppy)(2)Ir(mu-L-OC(O)-C(O)O-L)Ir(ppy)(2)][PF(6)](2) (5; ppy = 2-phenylpyridine anion; L-OC(O)-C(O)O-L = bis[4-(6'-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4'-yl)phenyl]-benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate), the asymmetric diiridium species [(ppy)(2)Ir(mu-L-OC(O)-L)Ir(ppy)(2)][PF(6)](2) (3; L-OC(O)-L = 4-([(6'-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4'-yl)benzoyloxy]phenyl)-6'-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine), and the mixed-metal Ir-Re species [(ppy)(2)Ir(mu-L-OC(O)-L)Re(CO)(3)Br][PF(6)] (4). Syntheses, characterization, and spectroscopic, photophysical, and redox properties of the model mononuclear compounds [Ir(ppy)(2)(L-OC(O)-L)][PF(6)] (2) and [Re(CO)(3)(L-COOH)Br] (6; L-COOH = 4'-(4-carboxyphenyl)-6'-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine) are also reported, together with the syntheses of the new bridging ligands L-OC(O)-L and L-OC(O)-C(O)O-L. The absorption spectra of all the complexes are dominated by intense spin-allowed ligand-centered (LC) bands and by moderately intense spin-allowed metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands. Spin-forbidden MLCT absorption bands are also visible as low-energy tails at around 470 nm for all the complexes. All the new species exhibit metal-based irreversible oxidation and bipyridine-based reversible reduction processes in the potential window investigated (between +1.80 and -1.70 V vs SCE). The redox behavior indicates that the metal-based orbitals are only weakly interacting in dinuclear systems, whereas the two chelating halves of the bridging ligands exhibit noticeable electronic interactions. All the complexes are luminescent both at 77 K and at room temperature, with emission originating from triplet MLCT states. The luminescence properties are temperature- and solvent-dependent, in accord with general theories: emission lifetimes and quantum yields increase on passing from acetonitrile to dichloromethane fluid solution and from room-temperature fluid solution to 77 K rigid matrix. In the dinuclear mixed-chromophore species 3 and 4, photoinduced energy transfer across the ester-linked bridging ligands seems to occur with low efficiency.     

Highly phosphorescence iridium complexes and their application in organic light-emitting devices

A new series of iridium(III) mixed ligand complexes TBA[Ir(ppy)(2)(CN)(2)] (1), TBA[Ir(ppy)(2)(NCS)(2)] (2), TBA[Ir(ppy)(2)(NCO)(2)] (3), and [Ir(ppy)(2)(acac)] (4) (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine; acac = acetoylacetonate, TBA = tetrabutylammonium cation) have been developed and fully characterized by UV-vis, emission, IR, NMR, and cyclic voltammetric studies. The lowest energy MLCT transitions are tuned from 463 to 494 nm by tuning the energy of the HOMO levels. These complexes show emission maxima in the blue, green, and yellow region of the visible spectrum and exhibit unprecedented phosphorescence quantum yields, 97 +/- 3% with an excited-state lifetimes of 1-3 micros in dichloromethane solution at 298 K. The near-unity quantum yields of these complexes are related to an increased energy gap between the triplet emitting state and the deactivating e(g) level that have been achieved by meticulous selection of ligands having strong ligand field strength. Organic light-emitting devices were fabricated using the complex 4 doped into a purified 4,4'-bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl host exhibiting a maximum of the external quantum efficiencies of 13.2% and a power efficiency of 37 lm/W for the 9 mol % doped system.     

Photophysical Properties of Heteroleptic Iridium Complexes Containing Carbazole‐Functionalized β‐Diketonates

Twelve iridium complexes with general formula of Ir(C^N)₂(LX) [C^N represents the cyclometalated ligand, i.e. 2‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl) pyridine (dfppy), 2‐phenylpyridine (ppy), dibenzo{f, h}quinoxaline (DBQ); LX stands for β‐diketonate, i.e. acetyl acetonate (acac), 1‐(carbazol‐9‐yl)‐5,5‐dimethylhexane‐2,4‐diketonate (CBDK), 1‐(carbazol‐9‐yl)‐5,5,6,6,7,7,7‐heptafluoroheptane‐2,4‐diketonate (CHFDK), 1‐(N‐ethyl‐carbazol‐3‐yl)‐4,4,5,5,6,6,6‐heptafluorohexane‐1,3‐diketonate (ECHFDK)] are synthesized, characterized and their photophysical properties are systemically studied. In addition, crystals of Ir(DBQ)₂(CHFDK) and Ir(DBQ)₂(acac) are obtained and characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The choice of these iridium complexes provides an opportunity for tracing the effect of the triplet energy level of ancillary ligands on the photophysical and electrochemical behaviors. Data show that if the triplet energy level of the β‐diketonate is higher than that of the Ir(C^N)₂ fragment and there is no superposition on the state density map, strong ³LC or ³MLCT‐based phosphorescence can be obtained. Alternatively, if the state density map of the two parts are in superposition, the ³LC or ³MLCT‐based transition will be quenched at room temperature. Density functional theory calculations show that these complexes can be divided into two categories. The lowest excited state is mainly determined by C^N but not β‐diketonate when the difference between the triplet energy levels of the two parts is large. However, when this difference is very small, the lowest excited state will be determined by both sides. This provides a satisfactory explanation for the experimental observations.     

以5-取代-8-羟基喹啉和2-苯基吡啶为配体的金属铱配合物的合成、表征及光致、电致发光性质

本文通过在8-羟基喹啉的5位上引入氨基和取代的苯基,合成了系列二-[2-苯基吡啶（C^N）][5-取代-8-羟基喹啉（N^O）]铱（Ⅲ）配合物（（C^N）2IrQ）.这里CN代表2-苯基吡啶,Q代表5-取代-8-羟基喹啉.通过1HNMR、13CNMR、MS、元素分析、单晶X-衍射等对配合物的化学和晶体结构进行了表征.利用循环伏安、UV-Vis、光致和电致发光光谱等对它们的光物理性质进行了表征.热重分析表明苯环上的取代基对配合物热稳定性有很大影响.常温下,几种5-取代苯基喹啉铱配合物的溶液和固体产生红色磷光发射,光致发光（PL）光谱在666和687nm附近出现两个强度基本相等的发射峰.配合物的发光性质主要受喹啉环和5位苯基的影响,苯环上的取代基团对配合物的发光性质影响不大.而5-氨基喹啉铱配合物PL光谱的最大发射峰在550nm,其PL光谱主要受2-苯基吡啶的影响.将配合物二-[2-苯基吡啶（C^N）][5-（4-甲氧基苯基）-8-羟基喹啉（N^O）]铱（Ⅲ）（7b）掺杂在聚2,7-（9,9-二辛基）芴（PFO）和30%（质量分数）的2-对叔丁基苯基-5-对联苯基-1,3,4-口恶二唑（PBD）的主体材料中,制备了聚合物发光器件（OLED）,器件电致发光（EL）光谱的发射峰在672nm处,18V时最大亮度为350cd/m2,在电压14V时CIE色坐标值为（0.61,0.33）,是一红光OLED器件.     

Ligand-bridged dinuclear cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes: from metallamacrocycles to discrete dimers

Metallamacrocycles 1, 2, and 3 of the general formula [{Ir(ppy)(2)}(2)(μ-BL)(2)](OTf)(2) (ppyH = 2-phenyl pyridine; BL = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpa) (1), 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane (bpp) (2), and trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) (3)) have been synthesized by the reaction of [{(ppy)(2)Ir}(2)(μ-Cl)(2)], first with AgOTf to effect dechlorination and later with various bridging ligands. Open-frame dimers [{Ir(ppy)(2)}(2)(μ-BL)](OTf)(2) were obtained in a similar manner by utilizing N,N'-bis(2-pyridyl)methylene-hydrazine (abp) and N,N'-(bis(2-pyridyl)formylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine (bpfd) (for compounds 4 and 5, respectively) as bridging ligands. Molecular structures of 1, 3, 4, and 5 were established by X-ray crystallography. Cyclic voltammetry experiments reveal weakly interacting "Ir(ppy)(2)" units bridged by ethylene-linked bpe ligand in 3; on the contrary the metal centers are electronically isolated in 1 and 2 where the bridging ligands are based on ethane and propane linkers. The dimer 4 exhibits two accessible reversible reduction couples separated by 570 mV indicating the stability of the one-electron reduced species located on the diimine-based bridge abp. The "Ir(ppy)(2)" units in compound 5 are noninteracting as the electronic conduit is truncated by the ethane spacer in the bpfd bridge. The dinuclear compounds 1-5 show ligand centered (LC) transitions involving ppy ligands and mixed metal to ligand/ligand to ligand charge transfer (MLCT/LLCT) transitions involving both the cyclometalating ppy and bridging ligands (BL) in the UV-vis spectra. For the conjugated bridge bpe in compound 3 and abp in compound 4, the lowest-energy charge-transfer absorptions are red-shifted with enhanced intensity. In accordance with their similar electronic structures, compounds 1 and 2 exhibit identical emissions. The presence of vibronic structures in these compounds indicates a predominantly (3)LC excited states. On the contrary, broad and unstructured phosphorescence bands in compounds 3-5 strongly suggest emissive states of mixed (3)MLCT/(3)LLCT character. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to gain insight on the frontier orbitals, and to rationalize the electrochemical and photophysical properties of the compounds based on their electronic structures.     

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.     

Cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes containing N-aryl picolinamide ancillary ligands

The reaction of the cyclometalated chloro-bridged iridium(III) dimer, [(ppy)₂ Ir(μ-Cl)]₂ (ppy - 2-phenyl pyridine) with N-aryl picolinamides (LH, LH-NO₂, LH-CH₃, LH-l, LH-F) resulted in the formation of neutral heteroleptic complexes [Ir(ppy)₂L] (1), [Ir(ppy)₂L-NO₂](2), [Ir(ppy)₂L-CH₃](3), [Ir(ppy)₂L-Cl](4) and [Ir(ppy)₂L-F] (5). These complexes contain a six-coordinate iridium with a 2C, 4N coordination environment. The N-aryl picolinamide ligands are deprotonated during complexation and the resulting amidates bind to iridium in a chelating manner (N, N). Optical spectroscopic studies revealed that the complexes 1-5 exhibited intense π→π^∗ absorptions in the ultraviolet region. In addition low energy transitions due to ¹MLCT, ¹LLCT and ³MLCT are also seen. The emission spectra of 1-5, upon excitation at 450 nm, show a single emission with a λ_max around 513 nm. The lifetimes of this emission are in between 7.4 and 9.6 μs while the quantum yields are quite high and range from 0.2 to 0.5. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations on 1 and 3, the three highest occupied orbitals are composed of ligand π orbitals mixed with Ir-d orbitals while the three lowest unoccupied orbitals are mostly π orbitals of the ligands. From the time dependent DFT calculations it is revealed that the lowest energy electronic singlet and triplet excitations are a mixture of MLCT and LLCT.     

Synthesis and characterization of facial and meridional tris-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes

The synthesis, structures, electrochemistry, and photophysics of a series of facial (fac) and meridional (mer) tris-cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes are reported. The complexes have the general formula Ir(C'N)(3) [where C'N is a monoanionic cyclometalating ligand; 2-phenylpyridyl (ppy), 2-(p-tolyl)pyridyl (tpy), 2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridyl (46dfppy), 1-phenylpyrazolyl (ppz), 1-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyrazolyl (46dfppz), or 1-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyrazolyl (tfmppz)]. Reaction of the dichloro-bridged dimers [(C'N(2)Ir(mu-Cl)(2)Ir(C'N)(2)] with 2 equiv of HC( wedge )N at 140-150 degrees C forms the corresponding meridional isomer, while higher reaction temperatures give predominantly the facial isomer. Both facial and meridional isomers can be obtained in good yield (>70%). The meridional isomer of Ir(tpy)(3) and facial and meridional isomers of Ir(ppz)(3) and Ir(tfmppz)(3) have been structurally characterized using X-ray crystallography. The facial isomers have near identical bond lengths (av Ir-C = 2.018 A, av Ir-N = 2.123 A) and angles. The three meridional isomers have the expected bond length alternations for the differing trans influences of phenyl and pyridyl/pyrazolyl ligands. Bonds that are trans to phenyl groups are longer (Ir-C av = 2.071 A, Ir-N av = 2.031 A) than when they are trans to heterocyclic groups. The Ir-C and Ir-N bonds with trans N and C, respectively, have bond lengths very similar to those observed for the corresponding facial isomers. DFT calculations of both the singlet (ground) and the triplet states of the compounds suggest that the HOMO levels are a mixture of Ir and ligand orbitals, while the LUMO is predominantly ligand-based. All of the complexes show reversible oxidation between 0.3 and 0.8 V, versus Fc/Fc(+). The meridional isomers are easier to oxidize by ca. 50-100 mV. The phenylpyridyl-based complexes have reduction potentials between -2.5 and -2.8 V, whereas the phenylpyrazolyl-based complexes exhibit no reduction up to the solvent limit of -3.0 V. All of the compounds have intense absorption bands in the UV region assigned into (1)(pi --> pi) transitions and weaker MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) transitions that extend to the visible region. The MLCT transitions of the pyrazolyl-based complexes are hypsochromically shifted relative to those of the pyridyl-based compounds. The phenylpyridyl-based Ir(III) tris-cyclometalates exhibit intense emission both at room temperature and at 77 K, whereas the phenylpyrazolyl-based derivatives emit strongly only at 77 K. The emission energies and lifetimes of the phenylpyridyl-based complexes (450-550 nm, 2-6 micros) and phenylpyrazolyl-based compounds (390-440 nm, 14-33 micros) are characteristic for a mixed ligand-centered/MLCT excited state. The meridional isomers for both pyridyl and pyrazolyl-based cyclometalates show markedly different spectroscopic properties than do the facial forms. Isolated samples of mer-Ir(C( wedge )N)(3) complexes can be thermally and photochemically converted to facial forms, indicating that the meridional isomers are kinetically favored products. The lower thermodynamic stabilities of the meridional isomers are likely related to structural features of these complexes; that is, the meridional configuration places strongly trans influencing phenyl groups opposite each other, whereas all three phenyl groups are opposite pyridyl or pyrazolyl groups in the facial complexes. The strong trans influence of the phenyl groups in the meridional isomers leads to the observation that they are easier to oxidize, exhibit broad, red-shifted emission, and have lower quantum efficiencies than their facial counterparts.     

The Preparation of (8‐Hydroxyquinolinato)Bis(2‐Phenylpyridyl)Iridium Complexes and Their Photophysical Properties

Four derivatives of the titled compounds, (8‐hydroxyquinoline)bis(2‐phenylpyridyl)iridium ( IrQ(ppy)₂ ), were prepared. Two of them were confirmed by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, in which solvent molecules were found to be incorporated in the crystal lattices. Their emission spectra display separated dual bands in de‐aerated solutions at about 515 and 645 nm upon excitation. These green and red emissions are attributed to the triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (³MLCT) and triplet ligand centered (³LC) transitions in Ir(ppy)₂ and IrQ, respectively. It is suggested that such a multiple emission is feasible by nearly orthogonal orientation between the ppy and quinoline ligands in the mixed‐ligand Ir‐compounds which prohibits energy transfer between the two different ligands. The electroluminescence (EL) of these compounds was examined by the fabrication of light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Unlike the spectra in solutions, their EL spectra displayed only the red emission band. Devices displaying white light can be obtained by mixing the red emission of IrQ(ppy)₂ with a compatible blue emitter (NPB) in separated layers.     

Cationic bis-cyclometallated iridium(III) phenanthroline complexes with pendant fluorenyl substituents: synthesis, redox, photophysical properties and light-emitting cells

We report the synthesis, characterisation, photophysical and electrochemical properties of a series of cationic cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes of general formula [Ir(ppy)(2)(phen)]PF(6) (ppy=2-phenylpyridine, phen=a substituted phenanthroline). A feature of these complexes is that the phen ligands are substituted with one or two 9,9-dihexylfluorenyl substituents to provide extended pi conjugation, for example, the 3-[2-(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl)]phenanthroline and 3,8-bis[2-(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl)]phenanthroline ligands afford complexes 6 and 9, respectively. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of a related complex 18 containing the 3,8-bis(4-iodophenyl)phenanthroline ligand, revealed an octahedral coordination of the Ir atom, in which the metallated C atoms of the ppy ligands occupy cis positions. The complexes 6 and 9 displayed reversible oxidation waves in cyclic voltammetric studies (E(ox)(1/2)=+1.18 and +1.20 V, respectively, versus Ag/Ag(+) in CH(2)Cl(2)) assigned to the metal-centred Ir(III)/Ir(IV) couple. The complexes exhibit strong absorption in the UV region in solution spectra, due to spin-allowed ligand-centred (LC) (1)pi-pi* transitions; moderately intense bands occur at approximately 360-390 nm which are red-shifted with increased ligand length. The photoluminescence spectra of all the complexes were characterised by a broad band at lambda(max) approximately 595 nm assigned to a combination of (3)MLCT and (3)pi-->pi* states. The long emission lifetimes (in the microsecond time-scale) are indicative of phosphorescence: the increased ligand conjugation length in complexes 9 and 17 leads to increased lifetimes for the complexes (tau=2.56 and 2.57 micros in MeCN, respectively) compared to monofluorenyl analogues 6 and 15 (tau=1.43 and 1.39 micros, respectively). DFT calculations of the geometries and electronic structures of complexes 6', 9' (for both singlet ground state (S(0)) and triplet first excited (T(1)) states) and 18 have been performed. In the singlet ground state (S(0)) HOMO orbitals in the complexes are spread between the Ir atom and benzene rings of the phenylpyridine ligand, whereas the LUMO is mainly located on the phenanthroline ligand. Analysis of orbital localisations for the first excited (T(1)) state have been performed and compared with spectroscopic data. Spin-coated light-emitting cells (LECs) have been fabricated with the device structures ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Ir complex/Al, or Ba capped with Al (ITO=indium tin oxide, PEDOT=poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PSS=poly(styrene) sulfonate). A maximum brightness efficiency of 9 cd A(-1) has been attained at a bias of 9 V for 17 with a Ba/Al cathode. The devices operated in air with no reduction in efficiency after storage for one week in air.     

Substituent effect on the luminescent properties of a series of deep blue emitting mixed ligand Ir(III) complexes

The syntheses of the bright deep blue emitting mixed ligand Ir(III) complexes comprising two cyclometalating, one phosphine and one cyano, ligands are reported. In this study, a firm connection between the nature of the excited states and the physicochemical behavior of the complexes with different ligand systems is elucidated by correlating the observed crystal structures, spectroscopic properties, and electrochemical properties with the theoretical results obtained by the density functional theory (DFT) methods. The cyclometalating ligands used here are the anions of 2-(4',6'-difluorophenyl)-pyridine (F2ppy), 2-(4',6'-difluorophenyl)-4-methyl pyridine (F2ppyM), and 4-amino-2-(4',6'-difluorophenyl)-pyridine (DMAF2ppy). The phosphine ligands are PhP(O-(CH2CH2O)3-CH3)2 and Ph2P(O-(CH2CH2O)n-CH3), where Ph = phenyl and n = 1 (P1), 3 (P3), or 8 (P350). The thermal stabilities of the complexes were enhanced upon increasing the "n" value. The crystal structures of the complexes, [(DMAF2ppy)2Ir(P1)CN], (P1)DMA, and [(F2ppyM)2Ir(P3)CN], (P3)F2M, show the cyano and phosphine groups being in a cis configuration to each other and in a trans configuration to the coordinating Cring atoms. The long Ir-Cring bond lengths are ascribed to the trans effect of the strong phosphine and cyano ligands. DFT calculations indicate that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) is mainly contributed from the d-orbitals of the iridium atom and the pi-orbitals of cyclometalating and cyano ligands, whereas the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) spreads over only one of the cyclometalating ligands, with no contribution from phosphine ligands to both frontier orbitals. Dimethylamino substitution increases the energy of the emitting state that has more metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer (MLCT) character evidenced by the smaller vibronic progressions, smaller difference in the 1MLCT and 3MLCT absorption wavelengths, and higher extinction coefficients (epsilon) than the F2ppy and F2ppyM complexes. However, the increase in the basicity of the dimethylamino group in the DMAF2ppy complexes in the excited states leads to distortions and consequent nonradiative depopulation of the excited states, decreasing their lower photoluminescence (PL) efficiency. The effect of the substituents in the phosphine ligand is more pronounced in the electroluminescence (EL) than in the PL properties. Multilayer organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) are fabricated by doping the Ir(III) complexes in a blend of mCP (m-bis(N-carbazolyl benzene)) and polystyrene, and their device characteristics are studied. The (P3)F2M complex shows a maximum external quantum efficiency (etaex) of 2%, a maximum luminance efficiency (etaL) of 4.13 cd/A at 0.04 mA/cm2, and a maximum brightness of 7200 cd/m2 with a shift of the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates from (0.14, 0.15) in film PL to (0.19, 0.34) in EL.     

Phosphorescent iridium(III) complex with an N^O ligand as a Hg(2+)-selective chemodosimeter and logic gate

Phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes have been attracting increasing attention in applications as luminescent chemosensors. However, no instance of an iridium(III) complex being used as a molecular logic gate has hitherto been reported. In the present study, two iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(ppy)(2)(PBT)] and [Ir(ppy)(2)(PBO)], have been synthesized (PBT, 2-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-benzothiazole; PBO, 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-benzoxazole), and their chemical structures have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Theoretical calculations and detailed studies of the photophysical and electrochemical properties of these two complexes have shown that the N^O ligands dominate their luminescence emission properties. Moreover, [Ir(ppy)(2)(PBT)], containing a sulfur atom in the N^O ligand, can serve as a highly selective chemodosimeter for Hg(2+) with ratiometric and naked-eye detection, which is associated with the dissociation of the N^O ligand PBT from the complex. Furthermore, complex [Ir(ppy)(2)(PBT)] has been further developed as an AND and INHIBIT logic gate with Hg(2+) and histidine as inputs.     

Cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes containing 2-phenyl-2H-indazole ligand: Synthesis,photophysical studies,and DFT calculations

Heteroleptic cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes ( Ir1 – Ir5 ) featuring piz-based ligands and acetylacetone ancillary ligand are synthesized and characterized. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were studied, and DFT calculations were used to further support the experiment results. All the complexes emit yellow color with quantum yields of 12.2–56.5% in dichloromethane solution at room temperature, and the emission originates from a hybrid ³MLCT/³ILCT/³LLCT excited state.