Four cationic Ir(III) complexes, [Ir(dpq) 2 (bpy)]PF 6 (1), [Ir(dpq) 2 (phen)]PF 6 (2), [Ir(tfapq) 2 -(bpy)]PF 6 (3), and [Ir(tfapq) 2 (phen)]PF 6 (4) (dpqH = 2,4-diphenylquinoline, tfapqH = 2-(4 -trifluoroacetylphenyl)-4-phenylquinoline, bpy = 2,2 -bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and fully characterized. The structure of 4 was also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The electron-acceptor character of the trifluoroacetyl unit leads to a reduced HOMO-LUMO gap and consequently a red-shift of the UV/Vis absorption and luminescence spectra. The solvophobic character of the trifluoroacetyl unit gives rise to a molecule assembly in solution.