This perspective illustrates our approach in the design of heteroleptic cationic iridium(iii) complexes for optoelectronic applications, especially as emitters in electroluminescent devices. We discuss changes in the photophysical properties of the complexes as a consequence of modification of the electronics of either the cyclometalating (C^N) or the ancillary (N^N) ligands. We then broach the impact on these properties as a function of modification of the structure of both types of ligands. We explain trends in the optoelectronic behaviour of the complexes using a combination of rationally designed structure-property relationship studies and theoretical modelling that serves to inform subsequent ligand design. However, we have found cases where the design paradigms do not always hold true. Nevertheless, all these studies contribute to the lessons we have learned in the design of heteroleptic cationic phosphorescent iridium(iii) complexes.

Cationic iridium(III) complexes represent the single largest class of emitters used in light emitting electrochemical cells (LEECs). In this chapter, we highlight the state-of-the-art emitters in terms of efficiency and stability in LEEC devices, highlighting blue, green, yellow/orange, red and white devices, and provide an outlook to the future of LEECs.

Combining a sterically bulky, electron-deficient cyclometalating C∧N ligands with an electron rich, highly rigidified N∧N ligand gives an iridium complex, that achieves extraordinarily bright blue emission (Φ PL = 90%; λ max = 459 nm in MeCN) for a cationic iridium complex.

We demonstrate a turn-on strategy for blue-emitting [Ir(C^N)2(P^P)]PF6 complexes and apply them to EL devices.

The synthesis, structural and photophysical characterisation, and LEEC devices of four novel, cationic iridium(iii) complexes are reported.

A structure–property relationship study of neutral heteroleptic (1 and 2, [Ir(C∧N)2(L∧X)]) and homoleptic (3 and 4, fac-[Ir(C∧N)3]) Ir(III) complexes (where L∧X = anionic 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionato-κO3,κO6 (thd) and C∧N = a cyclometalating ligand bearing a pentafluorosulfanyl (−SF5) electron-withdrawing group (EWG) at the C4 (HL1) and C3 (HL2) positions of the phenyl moiety) is presented. These complexes have been fully structurally characterized, including by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and their electrochemical and optical properties have also been extensively studied. While complexes 1 ([Ir(L1)2(thd)]), 3 (Ir(L1)3), and 4 (Ir(L2)3) exhibit irreversible first reduction waves based on the pentafluorosulfanyl substituent in the range of −1.71 to −1.88 V (vs SCE), complex 2 ([Ir(L2)2(thd)]) exhibits a quasi-reversible pyridineC∧N-based first reduction wave that is anodically shifted at −1.38 V. The metal + C∧N ligand oxidation waves are all quasi-reversible in the range of 1.08–1.54 V (vs SCE). The optical gap, determined from the lowest energy absorption maxima, decreases from 4 to 2 to 3 to 1, and this trend is consistent with the Hammett behavior (σm/σp with respect to the metal–carbon bond) of the −SF5 EWG. In degassed acetonitrile, for complexes 2–4, introduction of the −SF5 group produced a blue-shifted emission (λem 484–506 nm) in comparison to reference complexes [Ir(ppy)2(acac)] (R1, where acac = acetylacetonato) (λem 528 nm in MeCN), [Ir(CF3-ppy) (acac)] (R3, where CF3-ppyH = 2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)pyridine) (λem 522 nm in DCM), and [Ir(CF3-ppy)3] (R8) (λem 507 nm in MeCN). The emission of complex 1, in contrast, was modestly red shifted (λem 534 nm). Complexes 2 and 4, where the −SF5 EWG is substituted para to the Ir–CC∧N bond, are efficient phosphorescent emitters, with high photoluminescence quantum yields (ΦPL = 58–79% in degassed MeCN solution) and microsecond emission lifetimes (τε = 1.35–3.02 μs). Theoretical and experimental observations point toward excited states that are principally ligand centered (3LC) in nature, but with a minor metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) transition component, as a function of the regiochemistry of the pentafluorosulfanyl group. The 3LC character is predominant over the mixed 3CT character for complexes 1, 2, and 4, while in complex 3, there is exclusive 3LC character as demonstrated by unrestricted density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The short emission lifetimes and reasonable ΦPL values in doped thin film (5 wt % in PMMA), particularly for 4, suggest that these neutral complexes would be attractive candidate emitters in organic light-emitting diodes.

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We report the first examples of highly luminescent di-coordinated Pd(0) complexes.