Bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes with terpyridine analogues: syntheses, structures, spectroscopy and computational studies

Two ligands based upon a 2,6-disubstituted pyridine bridge introduce bis-quinoxalinyl units in a fashion that yields analogues to the archetypal terdentate ligand, 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine. The ligands were synthesised from the key intermediate 2,6-bis(bromoacetyl)pyridine: a new, high-yielding route is described for this reagent. Two ligand variants (differentiated by H/Me substituents on the quinoxaline ring) were explored as coordinating moieties for iridium(III) in the development of luminescent complexes. Computational studies (DFT approaches employing B3LYP, B3LYP/LANL2DZ, and M062X/LANL2DZ levels) were used to investigate the geometric and coordination mode preferences of the new ligands and two possibilities arose from theoretical investigations: [Ir(N^N^N)2]3+ and [Ir(N^N^C)2]+, with the former predicted to be more energetically favourable. Upon synthesis and isolation of the Ir(III) complexes, X-ray crystallographic studies revealed coordination spheres that were cyclometalated, the structures both showing a [Ir(N^N^C)2]PF6 arrangement. Further spectroscopic characterization via NMR confirmed the ligand arrangements in the complexes, and photophysical studies, supported by DFT, showed that a mixture of metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and intra-ligand charge transfer (ILCT) character is likely to contribute to the emission features of the complexes, which phosphoresce orange-red (λem = 580–618 nm). The emission wavelength was influenced by the substituents on the quinoxaline ring (H vs. Me), thereby implying further tuneability is possible with future ligand iterations

Iridium(III) sensitisers and energy upconversion: the influence of ligand structure upon TTA-UC performance

Six substituted ligands based upon 2‐(naphthalen‐1‐yl)quinoline‐4‐carboxylate and 2‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)quinoline‐4‐carboxylate have been synthesised in two steps from a range of commercially available isatin derivatives. These species are shown to be effective cyclometallating ligands for IrIII, yielding complexes of the form [Ir(C^N)2(bipy)]PF6 (where C^N=cyclometallating ligand; bipy=2,2′‐bipyridine). X‐ray crystallographic studies on three examples demonstrate that the complexes adopt a distorted octahedral geometry wherein a cis‐C,C and trans‐N,N coordination mode is observed. Intraligand torsional distortions are evident in all cases. The IrIII complexes display photoluminescence in the red part of the visible region (668–693 nm), which is modestly tuneable through the ligand structure. The triplet lifetimes of the complexes are clearly influenced by the precise structure of the ligand in each case. Supporting computational (DFT) studies suggest that the differences in observed triplet lifetime are likely due to differing admixtures of ligand‐centred versus MLCT character instilled by the facets of the ligand structure. Triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA‐UC) measurements demonstrate that the complexes based upon the 1‐naphthyl derived ligands are viable photosensitisers with upconversion quantum efficiencies of 1.6–6.7 %

A polysubstituted ligand framework for color tuning phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes

A series of ligands have been synthesized based upon a polysubstituted 2-phenylquinoxaline core structure. These ligands introduce different combinations of fluorine and methyl substituents on both the phenyl and quinoxaline constituent rings. The resultant investigation of these species as cyclometalating agents for Ir(III) gave cationic complexes of the form [Ir(C^N)2(bipy)]PF6 (where C^N = cyclometalating ligand; bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine). X-ray crystallographic studies were conducted on four complexes and each revealed the expected distorted octahedral geometry based upon a cis-C,C and trans-N,N ligand arrangement at Ir(III). Supporting computational studies predict that each of the complexes share the same general descriptions for the frontier orbitals. TD-DFT calculations suggest MLCT contributions to the lowest energy absorption and a likely MLCT/ILCT/LLCT nature to the emitting state. Experimentally, the complexes display tunable luminescence across the yellow-orange-red part of the visible spectrum (λem = 579–655 nm)

Spectroscopic and theoretical investigation of color tuning in deep-red luminescent iridium(III) complexes

A series of heteroleptic, neutral iridium(III) complexes of the form [Ir(L)2(N^O)] (where L = cyclometalated 2,3-disubstituted quinoxaline and N^O = ancillary picolinate or pyrazinoate) are described in terms of their synthesis and spectroscopic properties, with supporting computational analyses providing additional insight into the electronic properties. The 10 [Ir(L)2(N^O)] complexes were characterized using a range of analytical techniques (including 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR and IR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry). One of the examples was structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction. The redox properties were determined using cyclic voltammetry, and the electronic properties were investigated using UV–vis, time-resolved luminescence, and transient absorption spectroscopies. The complexes are phosphorescent in the red region of the visible spectrum (λem = 633–680 nm), with lifetimes typically of hundreds of nanoseconds and quantum yields ca. 5% in aerated chloroform. A combination of spectroscopic and computational analyses suggests that the long-wavelength absorption and emission properties of these complexes are strongly characterized by a combination of spin-forbidden metal-to-ligand charge-transfer and quinoxaline-centered transitions. The emission wavelength in these complexes can thus be controlled in two ways: first, substitution of the cyclometalating quinoxaline ligand can perturb both the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital levels (LUMO, Cl atoms on the ligand induce the largest bathochromic shift), and second, the choice of the ancillary ligand can influence the HOMO energy (pyrazinoate stabilizes the HOMO, inducing hypsochromic shifts).<br/

Deep red emitting heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes that incorporate unsymmetrical 4-quinoline carboxylic acid derived ligands

Six disubstituted ligands based upon 2-(2′-pyridinyl/pyrazinyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acids have been synthesised, solvent-free, in one step from a range of commercially available isatin derivatives. These species behave as ancillary chelating ligands for Ir(III) complexes of the form [Ir(C^N)2(N^N)]PF6 (where C^N=cyclometalating ligand; N^N=2-(2′-pyridinyl/pyrazinyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acids). An X-ray crystallographic study on one complex shows a distorted octahedral geometry wherein a cis-C,C and trans-N,N coordination mode is observed for the cyclometalating ligands. DFT calculations predicted that variations in N^N ligand from 2,2′-bipyridine to L1–6 should localise the LUMO on to the Ln ligand and that the complexes are predicted to display MLCT/LLCT character. All complexes displayed luminescence in the deep red part of the visible region (674–679 nm) and emit from triplet states, but with little apparent tuning as a function of L1–6. Further time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy supports the participation of these triplet states to the excited state character.</p