Iridium Luminophore Complexes for Unimolecular Oxygen Sensors

Highly Efficient, Selective, and General Method for the Preparation of Meridional Homo- and Heteroleptic Tris-cyclometalated Iridium Complexes

A highly efficient and general method based on transmetalation with an organozinc reagent is developed for selective preparation of homo- and heteroleptic meridional tris-cyclometalated iridium complexes. The molecular structure of mer-Ir(1-piq)2(ppy) (2) has been determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The emission properties of a series of meridional complexes are reported.

Interplay between Intra- and Interligand Charge Transfer with Variation of the Axial N-Heterocyclic Ligand in Osmium(II) Pyridylpyrazolate Complexes: Extensive Color Tuning by Phosphorescent Solvatochromism

The rational design and syntheses of a new series of Os(II) complexes with formula [Os(fppz)(2)(CO)(L)] (1: L=4-dimethylaminopyridine; 2: L = pyridine; 3: L = 4,4'-bipyridine; 4: L = pyridazine; 5: L = 4-cyanopyridine), bearing two (2-pyridyl)pyrazolate ligands (fppz) together with one carbonyl and one N-heterocyclic ligand at the axial positions are reported. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of, for example, 2 reveal a distorted octahedral geometry in which both fppz ligands reside in the equatorial plane with a trans configuration and adopt a bent arrangement at the metal center with a dihedral angle of approximately 23 degrees , while the carbonyl and pyridine ligands are located at the axial positions. Variation of the axial N-heterocyclic ligand leads to remarkable changes in the photophysical properties as the energy gap and hence the phosphorescence peak wavelength can be tuned. For complexes 1 and 2 the solvent-polarity-independent phosphorescence originates from a combination of intraligand (3)pi-pi* ((3)ILCT) and metal-to-ligand charge transfer transitions ((3)MLCT). In sharp contrast, as supported by cyclic voltammetry measurements and theoretical calculations, complexes 3--5 exhibit mainly ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT) transitions, resulting in a large dipolar change. The phosphorescence of complexes 3--5 thus exhibits a strong dependence on the polarity of the solvent, being shifted for example, from 560 (in C(6)H(12)) to 665 nm (in CH(3)CN) and from 603 (in C(6)H(12)) to 710 nm (in CH(3)CN) for complexes 3 and 5, respectively. The results clearly demonstrate that a simple, straightforward derivatization of the axial N-heterocyclic ligand drastically alters the excitation properties per se from intraligand charge transfer (ILCT) to LLCT transitions. The latter exhibit remarkable LLCT phosphorescence solvatochromism so that a broad range of color tunability can be achieved.

Heteroleptic Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes Displaying Blue Phosphorescence in Solution and Solid State at Room Temperature

A series of heteroleptic Ir(III) metal complexes 1-3 bearing two N-phenyl-substituted pyrazoles and one 2-pyridyl pyrazole (or triazole) ligands were synthesized and characterized to attain highly efficient, room-temperature blue phosphorescence. The N-phenylpyrazole ligands, dfpzH = 1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyrazole, fpzH = 1-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrazole, dfmpzH = 1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole, and fmpzH = 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole, show a similar reaction pattern with respect to the typical cyclometalated (C(wedge)N) chelate, which utilizes its ortho-substituted phenyl segment to link with the central Ir(III) atom, while the second 2-pyridylpyrazole (or triazole) ligand, namely, fppzH = 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole, fptzH = 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)triazole, and hptzH = 3-(heptafluoropropyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)triazole, undergoes typical anionic (N--N) chelation to complete the octahedral framework. X-ray structural analyses on complexes [(dfpz)(2)Ir(fppz)] (1a) and [(fmpz)(2)Ir(hptz)] (3d) were established to confirm their molecular structures. Increases of the pipi energy gaps of the Ir(III) metal complexes were systematically achieved with two tuning strategies. One involves the substitution for one or two fluorine atoms at the N-phenyl segment or the introduction of two electron-releasing methyl substituents at the pyrazole segment of the H(C--N) ligands. Alternatively, we have applied the more electron-accepting triazolate in place of the pyrazolate segment for the third (N--N)H ligand. Our results, on the basis of steady-state, relaxation dynamics, and theoretical approaches, lead to a conclusion that, for complexes 1-3, the weakening of iridium metal-ligand bonding strength in the T(1) state plays a crucial role for the fast radiationless deactivation. For the case of [(fmpz)(2)Ir(hptz)] (3d), a thermal deactivation barrier of 4.8 kcal/mol was further deduced via temperature-dependent studies. The results provide a theoretical basis for future design and synthesis of the corresponding analogues suited to blue phosphorescent emitters.

Efficient Red-Emitting Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes Containing Lepidine-Based Ligands

Heteroleptic cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes featuring lepidine-based ligands and acetyl acetone auxiliary ligand are synthesized. Multiple lowest energy absorption bands are observed for these complexes indicating substantial mixing of the singlet and triplet levels. All the complexes emit orange or red color in dichloromethane solutions with lifetimes in the range 1.6-3.7 micros. The emission in the complexes probably originates from the (3)MLCT state. The complexes are applied as emitting guests in LED devices of the structure ITO/HTL(BPAPF or NPB)/6% Ir in CBP/BCP/Alq(3)/LiF/Al. They exhibit excellent device characteristics with an orange to red EL profile.