Heteroleptic Cycloplatinated N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: A New Approach to Highly Efficient Blue-Light Emitters

Pyrazolate-Bridged NHC Cyclometalated [Pt2] Complexes and [Pt2Ag(PPh3)]+ Clusters in Electroluminescent Devices

The ionic transition metal complexes (iTMCs) [{Pt(C∧C*)(μ-Rpz)}2Ag(PPh3)]X (HC∧C* = 1-(4-(ethoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-3-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-ylidene, X = ClO4/PF6; Rpz = pz 1a/2a, 4-Mepz 1b/2b, and 3,5-dppz 1c/2c) were prepared from the neutral [{Pt(C∧C*)(μ-Rpz)}2] (Rpz = pz A, 4-Mepz B, and 3,5-dppz C) and fully characterized. The "Ag(PPh3)" fragment is in between the two square-planar platinum units in an "open book" disposition and bonded through two Pt-Ag donor-acceptor bonds, as shown by X-ray diffraction (dPt-Ag ∼ 2.78 Å, 1a-1c). 195Pt{1H} and 31P{1H} NMR confirmed that these solid-state structures remain in solution. Photoluminescence studies and theoretical calculations on 1a, were performed. The diphenylpyrazolate derivatives show the highest photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) in the solid state. Therefore, 2c and its neutral precursor C were selected as active materials on light-emitting devices. OLEDs fabricated with C showed a turn-on voltage of 3.2 V, a luminance peak of 21,357 cd m-2 at 13 V, and a peak current efficiency of 28.8 cd A-1 (9.5% EQE). They showed a lifetime t50 of 15.7 h. OLEDs using 2c showed a maximum luminance of 114 cd m-2, while LECs exhibited a maximum luminance of 20 cd m-2 and a current efficiency of around 0.2 cd A-1, with a t50 value of 50 min.

A Series of Planar Phosphorescent Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes as New Anticancer Theranostic Agents That Induce Oncosis

Herein, four planar cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes with a main ligand of enlarged aromatic rings have been assessed as effective anticancer theranostic agents for the first time. With an increased number of aromatic rings in the N∧N ligand, 1a-1d exhibit increased lipophilicity and cytotoxicity selectivity. The intensity of the Pt-Pt interaction of each complex can be indicated by an enhanced near-infrared (NIR) emission in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), their binding activity with biomolecules of bovine serum albumin (BSA) is accompanied by a vivid turn-on green emission, and the intensity gradually decreased from 1a to 1d, which is consistent with the docking of two complexes with BSA. Both "turn-on" NIR and green emission of 1d can be mainly observed in nuclei of living cell within 24 h, while two phosphorescence traces of 1b were recorded in lysosomes by confocal imaging. Moreover, 1d shows the highest efficiency in inducing oncosis of Hela cells, and the relative process was investigated.

Luminescent Complexes of Platinum, Iridium, and Coinage Metals Containing N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands: Design, Structural Diversity, and Photophysical Properties

The employment of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) to design luminescent metal compounds has been the focus of recent intense investigations because of the strong σ-donor properties, which bring stability to the whole system and tend to push the d-d dark states so high in energy that they are rendered thermally inaccessible, thereby generating highly emissive complexes for useful applications such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or featuring chiroptical properties, a field that is still in its infancy. Among the NHC complexes, those containing organic chromophores such as naphthalimide, pyrene, and carbazole exhibit rich emission behavior and thus have attracted extensive interest in the past five years, especially carbene coinage metal complexes with carbazolate ligands. In this review, the design strategies of NHC-based luminescent platinum and iridium complexes with large spin-orbit-coupling (SOC) are described first. Subsequent paragraphs illustrate the recent advances of luminescent coinage metal complexes with nucleophilic- and electrophilic-based carbenes based on silver, gold, and copper metal complexes that have the ability to display rich excited state emissions in particular via thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). The luminescence mechanism and excited state dynamics are also described. We then summarize the advance of NHC-metal complexes in the aforementioned fields in recent years. Finally, we propose the development trend of this fast-growing field of luminescent NHC-metal complexes.

Deep Blue Phosphorescence from Platinum Complexes Featuring Cyclometalated N-Pyridyl Carbazole Ligands with Monocarborane Clusters (CB11H12-)

The utilization of deep blue phosphorescent materials in high-performance displays and solid-state lighting requires high quantum efficiencies and color purities. Here, we describe the preparation and luminescent properties of novel platinum triplet emitters featuring cyclometalated N-pyridyl-carbazole ligands functionalized with closo-monocarborane clusters [CB₁₁H₁₂]^-. All reported complexes were fully characterized by using standard small molecule techniques (UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)), and their solid-state structures were elucidated by X-ray diffraction. These platinum phosphors emit in the blue region of the visible wavelength spectrum in both the solid and solution states. Complex 4a exhibits the highest luminous efficiency at λ_em = 439 nm with a photoluminescent quantum yield (PLQY) of 60% by dispersing in a PMMA matrix. Electrochemical and computational studies of complexes 4a and 4b revealed that the blue phosphorescence originates mainly from intraligand ³π → π* (³ILCT) transitions with relatively small ³MLCT mixing. A deep-blue OLED containing 4a as the light-emitting dopant was successfully fabricated using a solution-processed method, and the device exhibited blue photoluminescence with CIE coordinates of (0.17, 0.15) and a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE_max) value of 6.2%. This article represents the pioneering study of a deep blue PhOLED using a Pt complex bearing a closo-monocarborane anion substituent, providing a new avenue into the preparation of novel triplet emitters based on boron-rich cluster anions.

Blue Phosphorescence and Hyperluminescence Generated from Imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ylidene-Based Iridium(III) Phosphors

Four isomeric, homoleptic iridium(III) metal complexes bearing 5-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ylidene and 6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ylidene-based cyclometalating chelates are successfully synthesized. The meridional isomers can be converted to facial isomers through acid induced isomerization. The m-isomers display a relatively broadened and red-shifted emission, while f-isomers exhibit narrowed blue emission band, together with higher photoluminescent quantum yields and reduced radiative lifetime relative to the mer-counterparts. Maximum external quantum efficiencies of 13.5% and 22.8% are achieved for the electrophosphorescent devices based on f-tpb1 and m-tpb1 as dopant emitter together with CIE coordinates of (0.15, 0.23) and (0.22, 0.45), respectively. By using f-tpb1 as the sensitizing phosphor and t-DABNA as thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) terminal emitter, hyperluminescent OLEDs are successfully fabricated, giving high efficiency of 29.6%, full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 30 nm, and CIE coordinates of (0.13, 0.11), confirming the efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process.

Phosphorescent Tris-cyclometalated Pt(IV) Complexes with Mesoionic N-Heterocyclic Carbene and 2-Arylpyridine Ligands

The synthesis, structure, photophysical properties, and electrochemistry of the first series of Pt(IV) tris-chelates bearing cyclometalated aryl-NHC ligands are reported. The complexes have the general formula [Pt(trz)₂(C∧N)]⁺, combining two units of the cyclometalated, mesoionic aryl-NHC ligand 4-butyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene (trz) with a cyclometalated 2-arylpyridine [C∧N = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy), 2-phenylpyridine (ppy), 2-(p-tolyl)pyridine (tpy), 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine (thpy), 2-(9,9-dimethylfluoren-2-yl)pyridine (flpy)], and presenting a mer arrangement or metalated aryls. They exhibit a significant photostability under UV irradiation and long-lived phosphorescence in the blue to yellow color range, arising from ³LC excited states involving the C∧N ligands, with quantum yields of up to 0.34 in fluid solution and 0.77 in the rigid matrix at 298 K. The time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations reveal that nonemissive, deactivating excited states of ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) character are pushed to high energies as a consequence of the strong σ-donating ability of the carbenic moieties, making the Pt(trz)₂ subunit an essential structural component that enables efficient emissions from the chromophoric C∧N ligands, with potential application for the development of different Pt(IV) emitters with tunable properties.

Strongly Luminescent Pt(IV) Complexes with a Mesoionic N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand: Tuning Their Photophysical Properties

The synthesis, electrochemistry, and photophysical properties of a series of bis-cyclometalated Pt(IV) complexes that combine the mesoionic aryl-NHC ligand 4-butyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene (trz) with either 1-phenylpyrazole or 2-arylpyridine (C^∧N) are reported. The complexes (OC-6-54)-[PtCl₂(C^∧N)(trz)] bearing cyclometalating 2-arylpyridines present phosphorescent emissions in the blue to yellow color range, which essentially arise from ³LC(C^∧N) states, and reach quantum yields of ca. 0.3 in fluid solutions and almost unity in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrices at 298 K, thus representing a class of strong emitters with tunable properties. A systematic comparison with the homologous C₂-symmetrical species (OC-6-33)-[PtCl₂(C^∧N)₂], which contains two equal 2-arylpyridine ligands, shows that the introduction of a trz ligand leads to significantly lower nonradiative decay rates and higher quantum efficiencies. Computational calculations substantiate the effect of the carbene ligand, which raises the energy of dσ* orbitals in these derivatives and results in the higher energies of nonemissive deactivating ³LMCT states. In contrast, the isomers (OC-6-42)-[PtCl₂(C^∧N)(trz)] are not luminescent because they present a ³LMCT state as the lowest triplet.

Luminescent cyclometalated platinum(ii) complexes with acyclic diaminocarbene ligands: structural, photophysical and biological properties

Four new cyclometalated Pt(ii) complexes bearing acyclic diaminocarbene (ADC) ligands, [Pt(C^N)Cl{C(NHXyl)(NHR)}] [C^N = 2,6-difluorophenylpyridine (dfppy), phenylquinoline (pq); R = Pr 3a, 4a, CH₂Ph 3b, 4b], were prepared by the nucleophilic attack on the isocyanide [Pt(C^N)Cl(CNXyl)] (C^N = dfppy 1, pq 2) by the corresponding amine RNH₂ (R = Pr, CH₂Ph). Complexes 3 show in their ¹H NMR spectra in CDCl₃ a notable concentration dependence, with a clear variation of the δ_H (NHXyl) signal, suggesting an assembling process implying donor-acceptor NH_XylCl bonding, also supported by 1D-PGSE (Pulse Field Gradient Spin Echo) and 2D-DOSY (Diffusion Ordered Spectroscopy) NMR experiments in solution and X-ray diffraction studies. The intermolecular interactions in compounds 3a and 3b were studied by using Hirshfeld surface analysis and Non-Covalent Interaction (NCI) methods on their X-ray structures. Their photophysical properties were investigated by absorption and emission spectroscopies and also by TD-DFT calculations performed on 3a and 4b. These complexes show green (3) or orange (4) phosphorescence, attributed to a mixed ³IL/³MLCT excited state. The carbene ligand does not affect the emission maxima but it produces an increase of the quantum yields in relation to the isocyanide in the precursors. In fluid solutions, the emission is not concentration-dependent, but the complexes may show aggregation induced emission as detailed for complexes 3a and 4a. In addition, cytotoxicity studies in the human cell lines A549 (lung carcinoma) and HeLa (cervix carcinoma) showed good activity for these complexes and 3a, 3b and 4a exhibit a strong effect on DNA electrophoretic mobility. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 3 and 4 represent the first examples of cycloplatinated complexes bearing acyclic diamino carbenes with antiproliferative properties.

Photophysical Properties and Kinetic Studies of 2-Vinylpyridine-Based Cycloplatinated(II) Complexes Containing Various Phosphine Ligands

A series of cycloplatinated(II) complexes with general formula of [PtMe(Vpy)(PR₃)], Vpy = 2-vinylpyridine and PR₃ = PPh₃ (1a); PPh₂Me (1b); PPhMe₂ (1c), were synthesized and characterized by means of spectroscopic methods. These cycloplatinated(II) complexes were luminescent at room temperature in the yellow–orange region’s structured bands. The PPhMe₂ derivative was the strongest emissive among the complexes, and the complex with PPh₃ was the weakest one. Similar to many luminescent cycloplatinated(II) complexes, the emission was mainly localized on the Vpy cyclometalated ligand as the main chromophoric moiety. The present cycloplatinated(II) complexes were oxidatively reacted with MeI to yield the corresponding cycloplatinated(IV) complexes. The kinetic studies of the reaction point out to an S_N2 mechanism. The complex with PPhMe₂ ligand exhibited the fastest oxidative addition reaction due to the most electron-rich Pt(II) center in its structure, whereas the PPh₃ derivative showed the slowest one. Interestingly, for the PPhMe₂ analog, the trans isomer was stable and could be isolated as both kinetic and thermodynamic product, while the other two underwent trans to cis isomerization.

Highly Photoluminescent Blue Ionic Platinum-Based Emitters

New cycloplatinated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) compounds with chelate diphosphines (P^P) as ancillary ligands: [Pt(R-C^C*)(P^P)]PF₆ (R = H, P^P = dppm (1A), dppe (2A), dppbz (3A); R = CN, P^P = dppm (1B), dppe (2B), dppbz (3B)) have been prepared from the corresponding starting material [{Pt(R-C^C*)(μ-Cl)}₂] (R = H, A, R = CN, B) and fully characterized. The new compound A has been prepared by a stepwise protocol. The photophysical properties of 1A-3A and 1B-3B have been widely studied and supported by the time-dependent-density functional theory. These compounds show an efficient blue (dppe, dppbz) or cyan (dppm) emission in PMMA films (5 wt %), with photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) ranging from 30% to 87% under an argon atmosphere. This emission has been assigned mainly to transitions from ³ILCT [π(NHC) → π*(NHC)] excited states with some ³LL'CT [π(NHC) → π*(P^P)] character. The electroluminescence of these materials in proof-of-concept solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes containing 3A and 3B as dopants was investigated. The CIE coordinates for devices based on 3A (0.22, 0.41) and 3B (0.24, 0.44) fit within the sky blue region.

A cyclometalated trinuclear Ir(iii)/Pt(ii) complex as a luminescent probe for histidine-rich proteins

A trinuclear luminescent organometallic Pt–Ir–Pt complex acts as an efficient protein staining agent due to reversible binding to histidine-rich proteins.

Sky-Blue Triplet Emitters with Cyclometalated Imidazopyrazine-Based NHC-Ligands and Aromatic Bulky Acetylacetonates

Platinum(II) complexes with an N-heterocyclic carbene and a cyclometalating phenyl ligand (C^C*) are excellent candidates as efficient blue triplet emitters for OLED applications. The electronic and photophysical properties of these complexes can be fine-tuned with the objective to increase the quantum yields and lower the phosphorescence decay times. We found that platinum complexes with an imidazopyrazine C^C* ligand and bulky acetylacetonates are sky-blue triplet emitters, characterised by an almost unitary quantum yield and short phosphorescence decay times.

A double rollover cycloplatinated(ii) skeleton: a versatile platform for tuning emission by chelating and non-chelating ancillary ligand systems

Described here is the synthesis and characterization of heteroleptic binuclear platinum(ii) complexes of the type [Pt2(μ-bpy-2H)(S^S)2] and [Pt2(μ-bpy-2H)(L)2(X)2], containing a 2,2'-bipyridine-based double rollover cycloplatinated core (Pt(μ-bpy-2H)Pt), in combination with the anionic S^S- chelate ligands di(ethyl)dithiocarbamate (dedtc) and O,O'-di(cyclohexyl)dithiophosphate (dcdtp) or non-chelating L/X ancillary ligands (PPh3/Me, t-BuNC/Me, PPh3/SCN and PPh3/N3). The new complexes were characterized using multinuclear (1H, 31P and 195Pt) NMR spectroscopy and some of them additionally using single crystal X-ray diffraction. The absorption and photoluminescence of the complexes show a strong dependence on the ancillary ligands. Upon excitation at 365 nm, in a CH2Cl2 rigid matrix (77 K), the complexes exhibit structured emission bands with λmax between 488 nm and 525 nm and vibrational spacing around 1350 cm-1, indicating the excited states centered on the cyclometalated ligand (3ILCT) with some mixing 3MLCT characteristics. In the case of the PPh3/N3 complex, a dual emission band (orange color) is observed in the solid state at 298 K for which the low energy band arises from an aggregation-induced emission (AIE). Upon lowering the temperature (77 K), thermochromism is observed (orange to yellow) which is accompanied by the intensification of the high energy band (ligand-centered structured band). Finally, in order to rationalize the obtained photophysical data, complete DFT (density functional theory) and TD-DFT (time-dependent DFT) calculations were performed on the selected complexes.

Phosphorescent Cyclometalated Platinum(II) aNHC Complexes

The synthesis and characterization of the first bidentate C^C* cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes based on abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes (aNHC) is presented. The aNHC ligand precursors are prepared from benzonitriles and anilines to form 1,2,3-trisubstituted imidazolium salts. The title compounds were synthesized by in situ generation of the silver carbene complex, followed by transmetalation to platinum and subsequent introduction of the β-diketonate ligand. Structural characterization by 2D NMR experiments, as well as solid-state structures unequivocally prove the abnormal binding mode of the aNHC ligands. Additionally, the photophysical properties of the platinum(II) complexes were examined and studied in detail by DFT calculations and cyclic voltammetry experiments. The title compounds proved to be strongly emissive at room temperature in the green to orange region of the visible spectrum, with emission efficiencies of up to 69 %.

Enhanced quantum yields by sterically demanding aryl-substituted β-diketonate ancillary ligands

Luminescent organometallic platinum(II) compounds are of interest as phosphors for organic light emitting devices. Their emissive properties can be tuned by variation of the ligands or by specific electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituents. Different ancillary ligands can have a profound impact on the emission color and emission efficiency of these complexes. We studied the influence of sterically hindered, aryl-substituted β-diketonates on the emission properties of C^C* cyclometalated complexes, employing the unsubstituted methyl-phenyl-imidazolium ligand. The quantum yield was significantly enhanced by changing the auxiliary ligand from acetylacetonate, where the corresponding platinum(II) complex shows only a very weak emission, to mesityl (mes) or duryl (dur) substituted acetylacetonates. The new complexes show very efficient emission with quantum yields >70% in the sky-blue spectral region (480 nm) and short decay times (<3 μs).

Luminescent ionic liquids based on cyclometalated platinum(ii) complexes exhibiting thermochromic behaviour in different colour regions

Luminescent ionic liquids, based on anionic Pt(ii) complexes, were developed.