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Bis-sulfone- and bis-sulfoxide-spirobifluorenes are a promising class of high-triplet-energy electron-acceptor hosts for blue phosphorescent light-emitting devices. The molecular design and synthetic route are simple and facilitate tailoring of the solubilities of the host materials without lowering the high-energy triplet state. The syntheses and characterization (including single-crystal structures) of four electron-accepting hosts are reported; the trend in their reduction potentials is consistent with the electron-withdrawing nature of the sulfone or sulfoxide substituents. Emission maxima of 421–432 nm overlap with the MLCT absorption of the sky-blue emitter bis(4,6-difluorophenyl-pyridinato)(picolinato)iridium(III) (FIrpic), allowing effective energy transfer from the acceptor hosts to FIrpic. Theoretical calculations show that the introduction of sulfone groups leads to better electron acceptors compared to analogous phosphine oxide functionalized hosts and, at the same time, preserves the energy of the lowest-lying triplet above that of the FIrpic emitter. The new hosts have been tested in phosphorescent light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs). Large effects of the various solubilizing moieties on the device performance are observed and discussed.

We report on charge- and ion-transport ionic hosts made from an imidazolium-cation-modified aryl-1,2,4-triazole, phosphineoxide-carbazole, and phosphineoxide. The hosts are white solids that have short-wavelength absorption cut-off at 28,200 cm(-1)) and that exhibit oxidation at (-2.75) V against ferrocene with a wide redox gap of >3.9 V. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Carbazole, a commonly used hole-transporter for organic electronics, has been modified with an imidazolium cation and a hexafluorophosphate counter-anion to give an ionic hole-transporter. It has been applied as one of the hosts in a host–guest blue light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) with the neutral blue emitter FIrPic. We have obtained efficient and bright blue LECs with an electroluminescence maximum at 474 nm and efficacy of 5 cd A−1 at a luminance of 420 cd m−2, thereby demonstrating the potential of the ionic organic charge-transporters and of the host–guest architecture for LECs.

Cationic cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes [(N,C-2'-2-phenylpyridyl)(2)Ir((NN)-N-boolean AND)](PF6) with alkyl-substituted 1-(2'-pyridyl)-pyrazole (NN)-N-boolean AND ligands exhibit green phosphorescence from a cyclometalating-ligand-centered excited state with structured emission spectrum and with quantum yield and excited-state lifetime of up to 26% and 1.4 mu s in argon-saturated dichloromethane solution. The alkyl groups do not change the energy or the nature of the emissive state; however, those alkyl groups that hinder coordination of the (NN)-N-boolean AND ligand to iridium(III) strongly quench phosphorescence of the complex. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cationic bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes [(C boolean AND N)(2)Ir(N boolean AND N)](PF6) with 2-(2'-pyridyl)-5-R-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (N boolean AND N; R = 1-adamantyl, mesityl, N-diphenylamino) have a redox gap of 2.58-2.68 V and exhibit orange-red phosphorescence in argon-saturated dichloromethane solution with a maximum, quantum yield, and excited-state lifetime of 613-644 nm, 2-6%, and 90-280 ns. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

The luminescent transition metal complexes [Re(CO)(3)Cl(bppz)] and [Pt(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)(bppz)] [bppz = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine], in which one of the diimine binding sites of the potentially bridging ligand bppz is vacant, have been used as 'complex ligands' to make heterodinuclear d-f complexes by attachment of a {Ln(dik)(3)} fragment (dik = a 1,3-diketonate) at the vacant site. When Ln = Pr, Nd, Er or Yb the lanthanide centre has low-energy f-f excited states capable of accepting energy from the (3)MLCT excited state of the Pt(II) or Re(I) centre, quenching the (3)MLCT luminescence and affording sensitised lanthanide(III)-based luminescence in the near-IR region. UV/Vis and luminescence spectroscopic titrations allowed measurement of (i) the association constants for binding of the {Ln(dik)(3)} fragment at the vacant diimine site of [Re(CO)(3)Cl(bppz)] or [Pt(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)(bppz)], and (ii) the degree of quenching of the (3)MLCT luminescence according to the nature of the Ln(III) centre. In all cases Nd(III) was found to be the most effective of the series at quenching the (3)MLCT luminescence of the d-block component because the high density of f-f excited states of the appropriate energy make it a particularly effective energy-acceptor.

Reaction of the potentially bis-bidentate bridging ligand 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)tetrazine (BPTZ) with various lanthanide complexes [Ln(tta)3(H2O)2] [Htta = thenoyl(trifluoro) acetone; Ln = La, Nd, Gd, Er, Yb] in aqueous ethanol afforded the mononuclear complexes [Ln(tta)3(BPTZ)] (Ln = La, Nd) or the dinuclear complexes [{Ln(tta)3}2(μ-BPTZ)] (Ln = Gd, Er, Yb) in which one or two, respectively, lanthanide tris-diketonate {Ln(tta)3} units are bound to the N,N-bidentate compartments of BPTZ. Crystal structures of the dinuclear complexes [{Yb(tta)3}2(μ-BPTZ)] ·CH2Cl2 and [{Gd(tta)3} 2(μ-BPTZ)]·2CH2Cl2 show that the metal centres have an approximately square-antiprismatic eight-coordinate geometry; there are close contacts above and below the plane of the BPTZ bridging ligand between peripheral trifluoromethyl groups from a tta ligand associated with each metal centre. It is not apparent why the larger lanthanides La and Nd only give a mononuclear complex whereas the smaller lanthanides Gd, Er and Yb give the dinuclear complex in each case. UV/Vis spectroscopic titrations of a solution of BPTZ in CH2Cl2 with increasing amounts of [Ln(tta)3(H2O)2] (Ln = La and Yb) show very similar behaviour, with stepwise binding constants K1 and K2 for association of the two {Ln(tta)3} units of ca. 106 M-1 and 105 M-1; allowing for the expected statistical factor of 4 there is an additional reduction in the value of K2 compared to K1 which may be associated with a steric interaction between the two {Ln(tta)3} units when the dinuclear complex forms. Steady-state and time-resolved luminescence studies on the complexes with Yb, Nd and Er, both in the solid state and CH 2Cl2 solution, show that near-IR luminescence on the microsecond timescale can be sensitised by irradiation either at 337 nm into the tta-based transition, or at 520 nm into the low-energy BPTZ-centred transition. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2003.

Two new cationic iridium(III) complexes with cyclometalating 1-phenylindazole or 2-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole ligands, [(C boolean AND N)(2)Ir(4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-dipyridyl)](PF6), exhibit yellow or green phosphorescence with quantum yields and excited state lifetimes of up to 45% and 840 ns in argon-saturated dichloromethane solution at room temperature. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Bis-cyclometalated cationic Ir(III) diimine complexes [Ir((CN)-N-Lambda)2((NN)-N-Lambda)](PF6) with 1-phenylpyrazoles ((CN)-N-Lambda) and 1-(4'-tert-butyl-2'-pyridyl) pyrazole ((NN)-N-Lambda) are white solids that have absorption onset below 425 nm and electrochemical gap of up to 3.5 V. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Sterically hindered N-aryl-benzimidazole pyridine-2-carboxylic acids (aryl = phenyl, 4-biphenyl, 2-naphthyl) readily form homoleptic, neutral, nine-coordinate europium complexes which display efficient sensitized luminescence in solid state and in dichloromethane solution with quantum yields reaching 59% and have monoexponential and nearly temperature-independent lifetimes as long as 2.7 ms. The ligand-centered absorption band with a maximum at 321-342 nm and intensity (50-56) x 10(3) M(-1)cm(-1) ensures efficient harvesting of excitation light by the complexes. Variation of N-aryl chromophore enhances the ligand absorption at 250-350 nm without changing its triplet state energy which amounts to (19.2-21.3) x 10(3) cm(-1). Photophysical properties of europium complexes benefit from adequate protection of the metal by the ligands against non-radiative deactivation and efficient ligand-to-metal energy transfer exceeding 70%. A correlation is observed between the sensitized luminescence quantum yields of europium and the ligand triplet state energy; in certain cases it points to the presence of a second-sphere quenching of Eu(III) by co-crystallized water in the solid state.

A series of tridentate benz- ACHTUNGTRENUNGimidazole-substituted pyridine-2-carboxylic acids have been prepared with a halogen, methyl or alkoxy group in the 6-position of the benzimidazole ring, which additionally contains a solubilising N-alkyl chain. The ligands form neutral homoleptic nine-coordinate lanthanum, europium and terbium complexes as established from X-ray crystallographic analysis of eight structures. The coordination polyhedron around the lanthanide ion is close to a tricapped trigonal prism with ligands arranged in an up–up–down fashion. The coordinated ligands serve as lightharvesting chromophores in the complexes with absorption maxima in the range 321–341 nm ($\epsilon=(4.9–6.0) \times 10^4m^{-1}cm^{-1}$) and triplet-state energies between 21 300 and $18 800 cm^{-1}$; the largest redshifts occur for bromine and electron-donor alkoxy substituents. The ligands efficiently sensitise europium luminescence with overall quantum yields (QEu L ) and observed lifetimes (tobs) reaching 71% and 3.00 ms, respectively, in the solid state and 52% and 2.81 ms, respectively, in CH2Cl2 at room temperature. The radiative lifetimes of the EuACHTUNGTRENUNG(5D0) level amount to trad=3.6–4.6 ms and the sensitisation efficiency hsens=QEu L (trad/tobs) is close to unity for most of the complexes in the solid state and equal to approximately 80% in solution. The photophysical parameters of the complexes correlate with the triplet energy of the ligands, which in turn is determined by the nature of the benzimidazole substituent. Facile modification of the ligands makes them promising for the development of brightly emissive europiumcontaining materials.

New heterobinuclear lanthanide complexes with benzoxazole-substituted 8-hydroxyquinolines, [Ln(ligand)(2)(mu-ligand)(2)Na] (Ln: Yb, Lu), have been prepared and their structure established by X-ray crystallography, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and photophysical studies. The complexes display efficient ligand-sensitized near-infrared luminescence of ytterbium at 925-1075 nm with lifetimes and quantum yields as high as 22 micros and 3.7%, in the solid state, and 20 micros and 2.6% in CH(2)Cl(2) solution, respectively. These quantum yields are the highest reported to date for ytterbium complexes with organic ligands containing C-H bonds. A long-wavelength and intense intraligand charge-transfer transition (lambda(max) = 446-456 nm; epsilon approximately 1.2 x 10(4) M(-1) cm(-1)) allows for the excitation of infrared luminescence with visible light up to 600 nm. Remarkable features of these complexes include (i) quantitative ligand-to-Yb(III) energy transfer resulting in high overall efficiency of the ytterbium luminescence, (ii) unusually short radiative lifetime of the Yb(III) ion, 706-745 micros for solutions in CH(2)Cl(2), calculated from the f-f absorption spectra, and 513-635 micros estimated for solid state samples from quantum yield and lifetime data, and (iii) the unexpected large influence of second-sphere composition on the radiative lifetime of ytterbium.

A facile synthesis of benzothiazole- and benzoxazole-substituted pyridine-2-carboxylic acids has been developed. These ligands form mononuclear nine-coordinate complexes [Ln(kappa(3)-ligand)(2)(kappa(1)-ligand)(H(2)O)(2)] with light and heavy trivalent lanthanides, as established from the X-ray analysis of 11 complexes. A crystal structure of a minor product, the anhydrous nine-coordinate complex [Eu(kappa(3)-L)(3)], has also been determined. Photophysical studies of gadolinium chelates indicate that the triplet states of the new ligands are located at 20400-21400 cm(-1). The ligands are good sensitizers of the europium luminescence with ligand-to-metal energy transfer efficiency in the range 60-100%. The overall quantum yields of the europium emission are substantial, 12-14% in the solid state, and increase to 29-39% upon replacement of two metal-coordinated water molecules with dimethylsulfoxide in solution. The luminescence of near-infrared emitting lanthanides is also sensitized, but quantum yields are much smaller, reaching 0.17% for neodymium and 1.25% for ytterbium in DMSO, while energy transfer efficiencies for these two ions are below 50%.

A new 1,3-diketonato ligand containing both an electron-donor [4-(dimethylamino)benzene] and an electron-acceptor (4- nitrobenzene) group and its lanthanide complexes have been prepared. They display an intense intra-ligand charge-transfer absorption transition in the visible region of the spectrum at 400–550 nm which was utilized to achieve visible-light excitation of metal-centred infrared luminescence of NdIII, ErIII and YbIII ions.

The planar aromatic imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline ligands have been used to prepare platinum(II) chloride and thiolate complexes. The X-ray structures of two thiolate compounds are reported, which show column-like packing in the solid state due to intermolecular aromatic π–π interactions. The compounds absorb moderately in the visible region, owing to {charge-transfer-to-diimine} electronic transition.

A new acetylene ligand modified with the electron-accepting 1,4,5,8-naphthalenediimide group and its Pt(II) phosphine complexes are reported. The Pt(II) complexes incorporate optical properties of the imide group, and display two reversible imide-centred reduction processes.

International audience; Homoleptic mononuclear nine-coordinate lanthanum(III) and europium(III) tris-complexes [Ln(N(wedge)N(wedge)O)3].nH2O with two tridentate N-benzylbenzimidazole pyridine-2-carboxylates exhibit a rare C3-symmetry of the lanthanide coordination polyhedron in the solid state, as confirmed by luminescence spectroscopy and by X-ray crystallography (the three N(wedge)N(wedge)O ligands are arranged "up-up-up" around the lanthanide ion). The symmetry, however, is changed to the more common C1 upon dissolution of the complexes in dichloromethane, as revealed by luminescence spectroscopy (the three ligands are likely to be arranged "up-up-down"). The new europium complexes emit efficient ligand-sensitized metal-centered luminescence with excited-state lifetimes of 1.56-2.18 ms and quantum yields of 25-41% in the solid and in solution. The change of the symmetry from (a higher) C3 to (a lower) C1 alters the luminescence spectrum, shortens the radiative lifetime, and increases the luminescence efficiency of the europium complexes.

EZ-C acknowledges the University of St Andrews for financial support. We report four cationic iridium(III) complexes [Ir(C^N)2(dtBubpy)](PF6) that have sulfurpentafluoride-modified 1-phenylpyrazole and 2-phenylpyridine cyclometalating (C^N) ligands (dtBubpy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridyl). Three of the complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. In cyclic voltammetry, the complexes undergo reversible oxidation of iridium(III) and irreversible reduction of the SF5 group. They emit bright green phosphorescence in acetonitrile solution and in thin films at room temperature, with emission maxima between 482–519 nm and photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 79%. The electron-withdrawing sulfur pentafluoride group on the cyclometalating ligands increases the oxidation potential and the redox gap and blue-shifts the phosphorescence of the iridium complexes more than do the commonly-employed fluoro and trifluoromethyl groups. The irreversible reduction of the SF5 group may be a problem in organic electronics; for example, the complexes do not exhibit electroluminescence in light-emitting electrochemical cells (LEECs). Nevertheless, the complexes exhibit green to yellow-green electroluminescence in doped multilayer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with emission maxima ranging from 501–520 nm and with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of up to 1.7% in solution-processed devices. Postprint

We report on seven new anionic benzimidazole-pyridine carboxylate and tetrazolate tridentate (NNO)-N-boolean AND-O-boolean AND and (NNN)-N-boolean AND-N-boolean AND ligands that are modified with chromophore (phenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl) and solubilizing groups. The ligands are UV chromophores with the lowest-energy absorption maxima at 312-335 nm and with the molar absorption coefficients of (20-25) x 10(3) M-1 cm(-1) in DMSO solution. The ligands form neutral complexes with trivalent lanthanides and sensitize the red luminescence of europium. The triplet state energies of the deprotonated ligands, which were measured from the phosphorescence spectra of their lanthanum complexes at 77 K, are in the range of (18.8-21.1) x 10(3) cm(-1). We also describe synthesis of non-symmetric pyridines that are 2,6- and 2,4,6-substituted with hydroxymethyl, carboxaldehyde, and carbonitrile groups. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A series of dinuclear platinum(II)-lanthanide(iii) complexes has been prepared in which a square-planar Pt(II) unit, either [(PPh(3))(2)Pt(pdo)] (H(2)pdo=5,6-dihydroxyphenanthroline) or [Cl(2)Pt(dppz)] [dppz=2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine], is connected to a Ln(dik)(3) unit ("dik"=a 1,3-diketonate ligand). The mononuclear complexes [(PPh(3))(2)Pt(pdo)] and [Cl(2)Pt(dppz)] both have external, vacant N,N-donor diimine-type binding sites that react with various [Ln(dik)(3)(H(2)O)(2)] units to give complexes [(PPh(3))(2)Pt(micro-pdo)Ln(tta)(3)] (series A; Htta=thenoyltrifluoroacetone), [Cl(2)Pt(micro-dppz)Ln(tta)(3)] (series B); and [Cl(2)Pt(micro-dppz)Ln(btfa)(3)] (series C; Hbtfa=benzoyltrifluoroacetone); in all of these the lanthanide centres are eight-coordinate. The lanthanides used exhibit near-infrared luminescence (Nd, Yb, Er). Crystal structures of members of each series are described. In all complexes, excitation into the Pt-centred absorption band (at 520 nm for series A complexes; 440 nm for series B and C complexes) results in characteristic near-IR luminescence from the Nd, Yb or Er centres in both the solid state and in CH(2)Cl(2), following energy-transfer from the Pt antenna chromophore. This work demonstrates how d-block-derived chromophores, with their intense and tunable electronic transitions, can be used as sensitisers to achieve near-infrared luminescence from lanthanides in suitably designed heterodinuclear complexes based on simple bridging ligands.

A series of potentially dinucleating ligands, each with two bidentate imino–pyridine compartments, has been used to prepare the mononuclear complexes [Re(CO)3Cl(Ln)] (n=1–4) which each have a vacant binding site and so constitute ‘complex ligands’ for the stepwise synthesis of heterodinuclear complexes. Three of the complexes (with L1, L2 and L4) have been structurally characterised. The mononuclear complex [Re(CO)3Cl(L5)], arising from decomposition of [Re(CO)3Cl(L3)] by hydrolysis of the non-coordinated imine unit, was also isolated and structurally characterised. Luminescence studies show that these compounds are only very weak emitters. The ‘complex ligand’ [Re(CO)3Cl(L1)] has been reacted with [Ln(hfac)3]·2H2O (Ln=Yb, Er) to prepare the heterodinuclear complexes [Re(CO)3Cl(μ-L1)Ln(hfac)3] in which the {Ln(hfac)}3 unit is attached to the second bidentate imino–pyridine site of [Re(CO)3Cl(L1)]. The crystal structures of these show that the bridging ligand has to twist to accommodate the two bulky metal fragments, and that the lanthanide units have an 8-coordinate square-antiprismatic geometry.

We report on new anionic tridentate benzimidazole-pyridine-tetrazolate ligands that form neutral 3:1 complexes with trivalent lanthanides. The ligands are UV-absorbing chromophores that sensitize the red luminescence of europium with energy-transfer efficiency of 74-100%. The lifetime and quantum yield of the sensitized europium luminescence increase from 0.5 ms and 12-13% for the as-prepared solids to 2.8 ms and 41% for dichloromethane solution. From analysis of the data, the as-prepared solids can be described as aqua-complexes [Ln(κ(3)-ligand)2(κ(1)-ligand)(H2O)x] where the coordinated water molecules are responsible for the strong quenching of the europium luminescence. In solution, the coordinated water molecules are replaced by the nitrogen atoms of the κ(1)-ligand to give anhydrous complexes [Ln(κ(3)-ligand)3] that exhibit efficient europium luminescence. X-ray structures of the anhydrous complexes confirm that the lanthanide ion (La(III), Eu(III)) is nine-coordinate in a distorted tricapped trigonal prismatic environment and that coordination of the lanthanide ion by tetrazolate is weaker than by carboxylate.

Reaction of the mononuclear ‘complex ligands’ [Re(CO)3Cl(L)] [L = 2,2′-bipyrimidine (bpym) or 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (bppz)] with a Ln(β-diketonate)3 unit affords the heterodinuclear complexes [Re(CO)3Cl(μ-bpym)Ln(fod)3] and [Re(CO)3Cl(μ-bppz)Ln(tta)3]; one member of each series has been structurally characterised.

A new class of benzimidazole-substituted 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands has been prepared that contain a monoanionic tridentate N,N,O-coordinating unit. These ligands form charge-neutral lanthanide complexes of the type [Ln(L-R) 3]. nH 2O or [Ln 2(L2) 3]. nH 2O ( n = 1-3) with early lanthanides from La (III) to Gd (III) inclusive. Crystallographic characterization was carried out for 11 complexes with 6 different ligands. In all of these structures, the lanthanide ion was found to be nine-coordinated by three ligands arranged in an "up-up-down" fashion around the metal center. The coordination environment can be described as a tricapped trigonal prism, with N atoms of quinoline rings occupying capping positions. Upon deprotonation of the ligand and complex formation, a new absorption band appears in the visible range of the spectrum with a maximum in the range of 466-483 nm and molar absorption coefficient of (7.2 - 18) x 10 (3) M (-1) cm (-1). Its origin is likely to be an intraligand phenolate-to-pyridyl charge transfer transition centered on the 8-hydroxyquinolate chromophore. Upon excitation in ligand absorption bands, new Nd (III) complexes display characteristic metal-centered luminescence in the near-infrared region from 850 to 1450 nm with quantum yields and lifetimes in solid state at room temperature as high as 0.34% and 1.2 mus, respectively.

A series of catechols with attached imide functionality (imide = phthalimide PHT, 1,8-naphthalimide NAP, 1,4,5,8-naphthalenediimide NDI, and NAP-NDI) has been synthesized and coordinated to the Pt (II)(bpy*) moiety, yielding Pt(bpy*)(cat-imide) complexes (bpy* = 4,4'-di- tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine). X-ray crystal structures of PHT and NAP complexes show a distorted square-planar arrangement of ligands around the Pt center. Both complexes form "head-to-tail" dimers in the solid state through remarkably short unsupported Pt...Pt contacts of 3.208 (PHT) and 3.378 A (NAP). The Pt(bpy*)(cat-imide) complexes are shown to combine optical (absorption) and electrochemical properties of the catecholate (electron-donor) and imide (electron-acceptor) groups. The complexes show a series of reversible reduction processes in the range from -0.5 to -1.9 V vs Fc (+)/Fc, which are centered on either bpy* or imide groups, and a reversible oxidation process at +0.07 to +0.14 V, which is centered on the catecholate moiety. A combination of UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry, and EPR spectroscopy has allowed assignment of the nature of frontier orbitals in Pt(bpy*)(cat-imide) complexes. The HOMO in Pt(bpy*)(cat-imide) is centered on the catechol ligand, while the LUMO is localized either on bpy* or on the imide group, depending on the nature of the imide group involved. Despite the variations in the nature of the LUMO, the lowest-detectable electronic transition in all Pt(bpy*)(cat-imide) complexes has predominantly ligand-to-ligand (catechol-to-diimine) charge-transfer nature (LLCT) and involves a bpy*-based unoccupied molecular orbital in all cases. The LLCT transition in all Pt(bpy*)(cat-imide) complexes appears at 530 nm in CH2Cl2 and is strongly negatively solvatochromic. The energy of this transition is remarkably insensitive to the imide group present, indicating lack of electronic communication between the imide and the catechol moieties within the cat-imide ligand. The high extinction coefficient, approximately 6 x 10(3) L mol(-1) cm(-1) of this predominantly LLCT transition is the result of the Pt orbital contribution, as revealed by EPR spectroscopy of the complexes in various redox states. The CV profile of the oxidation process of Pt(bpy*)(cat-imide) in CH2Cl2 and DMF is concentration dependent, as was shown for NDI and PHT complexes as typical examples. Oxidation appears as a simple diffusion-limited process at low concentrations, with an increasing anodic-to-cathodic peak separation eventually resolving as two independent consecutive waves as the concentration of the complex increases. It is suggested that aggregation of the complexes in the diffusion layer in the course of oxidation is responsible for the observed concentration dependence. Overall, the Pt(bpy*)(cat-imide) complexes are electrochromic compounds in which a series of stepwise reversible redox processes in the potential range from 0.2 to -2 V (vs Fc (+)/Fc) leads to tuneable absorbencies between 300 and 850 nm.

The synthesis and photophysical study of (C/\N)Pt(II)Q complexes, where C/\N is a bidentate cyclometalating ligand and Q is 8-hydroxyquinoline or quinoline-8-thiol, are presented. The compounds were obtained as a single isomer with N atoms of the C/\N and Q ligands trans-coordinated to the Pt(II) center as shown by X-ray crystallography. These chromophores absorb intensely in the visible region and emit in the deep-red spectral region from a quinolate-centered triplet intraligand charge-transfer excited state. The emission maxima are in the range 675-740 nm, with the quantum yields and lifetimes of up to 0.82% and 5.3 mus, respectively, in deoxygenated organic solvents at room temperature. These complexes are efficient photosensitizers of singlet oxygen in air-saturated solutions, with yields up to 90%.

Mononuclear complexes [Re(bpym)(CO)(3)Cl] and [Pt(bpym)(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)] (bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine), in which one of the bipyrimidine sites is vacant, have been used as "complex ligands" to prepare heterodinuclear d-f complexes in which a lanthanide tris(1,3-diketonate) unit is attached to the secondary bipyrimidine site to evaluate the ability of d-block chromophores to act as antennae for causing sensitized near-infrared (NIR) luminescence from adjacent lanthanide(III) centers. The two sets of complexes so prepared are [Re(CO)(3)Cl(mu-bpym)Ln(fod)(3)] (abbreviated as Re-Ln; where Ln = Yb, Nd, Er) and [(F(3)C-C(6)H(4)-CC)(2)Pt(mu-bpym)Ln(hfac)(3)] (abbreviated as Pt-Ln; where Ln = Nd, Gd). Members of both series have been structurally characterized; the metal-metal separation across the bipyrimidine bridge is approximately 6.3 A in each case. In these complexes, the (3)MLCT (MLCT = metal to ligand charge-transfer) luminescences of the mononuclear [Re(bpym)(CO)(3)Cl] and [Pt(bpym)(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)] complexes are quenched by energy transfer to those lanthanides (Ln = Yb, Nd, Er) that have low-lying f-f states capable of NIR luminescence; as a result, sensitized NIR luminescence is seen from the lanthanide center following excitation of the d-block unit. In the solid state, quenching of the luminescence from the d-block chromophore is complete, indicating efficient d --f energy transfer, as a result of the short metal-metal separation across the bipyrimidine bridge. In a CH(2)Cl(2) solution, partial dissociation of the dinuclear complexes into the mononuclear units occurs, with the result that some (3)MLCT luminescence is observed from mononuclear [Re(bpym)(CO)(3)Cl] or [Pt(bpym)(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)] present in the equilibrium mixture. Solution UV-vis and luminescence titrations, carried out by the addition of portions of Ln(fod)(3)(H(2)O)(2) or Ln(hfac)(3)(H(2)O)(2) to the d-block complex ligands, indicate that binding of the lanthanide tris(1,3-diketonate) unit at the secondary bipyrimidine site to give the d-f dinuclear complexes occurs with an association constant of ca. 10(5) M(-)(1).

A series of new derivatives of the di(2-pyridyl) amine ligand has been prepared, having the general formula (py)(2)NR, where R is one of a wide range of groups including naphthyl, pyrenyl, benzo-18-crown-6, pyrenyl, oxazolyl and bromo-biphenyl. All ligands are luminescent, with emission maxima between 370 and 520 nm, and with quantum yields in fluid solution of up to 0.74. Reaction of these ligands with Re(CO)(5)Cl afforded complexes of the type [Re(CO)(3)ClL] in which the di(2-pyridyl) amine ligand binds as an N,N-bidentate chelate via the two pyridyl units; five such complexes have been structurally characterised. With one exception the complexes are essentially non-luminescent, which we ascribe to the energetic availability of metal-based d-d excited states which can quench any MLCT or ligand-centred excited states. The exception is [Re(CO)(3)Cl(tppd)] [where tppd = N, N, N,, N'-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)-p-phenylenediamine] in which one di(2-pyridyl) amine site is occupied by a {Re(CO)(3)Cl} unit but the other is vacant; this luminesces in fluid solution at 516 nm (phi = 0.04, tau = 42 ns).

We report on five cationic iridium(III) complexes with cyclometalating 2-(3′-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridine and a diimine, [(C⁁N)2Ir(N⁁N)](PF6), N⁁N = 4,4′-R2-2,2′-dipyridyl or 4,7-R2-1,10-phenanthroline (R = H, Me, tert-Bu, Ph), and characterize three of them by crystal structure analysis. The complexes undergo oxidation of the Ir–aryl fragment at 1.13–1.16 V (against ferrocene couple) and reduction of the N⁁N ligand at −1.66 V to −1.86 V, and have a redox gap of 2.84–2.99 V. The complexes exhibit bluish-green to green-yellow phosphorescence in an argon-saturated dichloromethane solution at room temperature with a maximum at 486–520 nm, quantum yield of 61–67%, and an excited-state lifetime of 1.2–4.3 μs. In two-layer spin-coated light-emitting electrochemical cells (LEC) operated at a constant-voltage (4 V) or a pulsed-current (100 A m−2 per pulse; block wave, 1000 Hz; 50% duty), the complexes exhibit green-yellow electroluminescence with a maximum at 547–556 nm. The luminance and efficiency of LEC do not level off after peaking but decay; for example, the luminance of the devices after reaching the peak of 195–1094 cd m−2 halves in 9–580 min. The best of the new LEC runs under pulsed-current driving and exhibits peak efficiencies of 16.8 cd A−1 and 7.9 lm W−1 and an EQE of 5.4% at a luminance of ≥834 cd m−2. We find that the pulsed-current LEC offer the following advantages over the constant-voltage LEC: lower current, higher stability, faster turn-on, and higher efficiency at higher luminance.

In a series of heterodinuclear complexes in which a Pt(PPh3)2(catecholate) chromophore is covalently linked to a lanthanide tris(diketonate) unit, sensitised near-IR emission from Yb(III), Nd(III) and Er(III) occurs on excitation of the Pt(II) chromophore at 520 nm.

N,N'-Chelating ligands based on the 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole (PB) core have been prepared with a range of substituents (phenyl, pentafluorophenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, pyrenyl) connected to the periphery via alkylation of the benzimidazolyl unit at one of the N atoms. These PB ligands have been used to prepare a series of complexes of the type [Re(PB)(CO)(3)Cl], [Pt(PB)(CCR)(2)](where -CCR is an acetylide ligand) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(PB)][PF(6)](2)(bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Six of the complexes have been structurally characterised. Electrochemical and luminescence studies show that all three series of complexes behave in a similar manner to the analogous complexes with 2,2'-bipyridine in place of PB. In particular, all three series of complexes show luminescence in the range 553-605 nm (Pt series), 620-640 nm (Re series) and 626-645 nm (Ru series) arising from the (3)MLCT state, with members of the Pt(II) series being the most strongly emissive with lifetimes of up to 500 ns and quantum yields of up to 6% in air-saturated CH(2)Cl(2) at room temperature. In the Re and Ru series there was clear evidence for inter-component energy-transfer processes in both directions between the (3)MLCT state of the metal centre and the singlet and triplet states of the pendant organic luminophores (naphthalene, pyrene, anthracene). For example the pyrene singlet is almost completely quenched by energy transfer to a Re-based MLCT excited state, which in turn is completely quenched by energy transfer to the lower-lying pyrene triplet state. For the analogous Ru(II) complexes the inter-component energy transfer is less effective, with (1)anthracene --Ru((3)MLCT) energy transfer being absent, and Ru((3)MLCT)--(3)anthracene energy transfer being incomplete. This is rationalised on the basis of a greater effective distance for energy transfer in the Ru(II) series, because the MLCT excited states are localised on the bpy ligands which are remote from the pendant aromatic group; in the Re series in contrast, the MLCT excited states involve the PB ligand to which the pendant aromatic group is directly attached, giving more efficient energy transfer.

We achieve a 20-58 nm (610-1890 cm (1)) blue-shift of the phosphorescence maximum of iridium(III) complexes [(CN)(2)Ir(NN)](PF6) of 1,10-phenanthrolines (NN) by modifying the cyclometalating 2-phenylpyridine ligand (CN = ppy) with an electron-withdrawing 4'-fluoro or 4'-trifluoromethyl group or by replacing the pyridine in ppy with a pyrazole. New complexes exhibit green or yellow phosphorescence in argon-saturated 10 (5) M dichloromethane solution at room temperature with a maximum at 525-563 nm, quantum yield of 54-68%, and excited-state lifetime of 1.1-2.7 mu s. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The need for efficient and photostable lanthanide luminescent materials is dramatically increasing, in particular with respect to their growing application in lighting devices and biosciences. To this end, we have developed a facile synthesis of benzimidazole-substituted pyridine-2-carboxylic acids that efficiently sensitize europium luminescence in homoleptic neutral nine-coordinate complexes with overall quantum yields of 56-61% and lifetimes of 2.1-2.6 ms in the solid state at ambient conditions. The complexes reported here are potential synthons for the design of a variety of luminescent materials.

We report nine new homoleptic octahedral cobalt(II) complexes [Co((NN)-N-boolean AND)(3)](2+) and [Co((NNN)-N-boolean AND-N-boolean AND)(2)](2+) with bidentate or tridentate azole-pyridine ligands (where azole is 1,2,4-triazole or a substituted pyrazole). The complexes are air-and moisture-stable solids of pale pink to pale brown color that exhibit quasireversible redox processes in polar organic solvents. By changing azole heterocycle and by adding methyl groups, we tune redox potentials of the complexes from 0.05 to 0.5 V for the Co(III/II) couple (its cyclic voltammogram depends on the electrode history) and from -1.08 to -1.57 V for the Co(II/I) couple to give a redox gap of 1.37-1.82 V. Replacing a pyrazole with electron-deficient 1,2,4-triazole strongly positively shifts redox potentials of the complexes; in contrast, adding electron-donor methyl groups shifts the potentials negatively. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An improved synthesis of 2-(2'-benzothiazole)- and 2-(2'-benzoxazole)-8-hydroxyquinoline ligands that combine a tridentate N,N,O-chelating unit for metal binding and extended chromophore for light harvesting is developed. The 2-(2'-benzoxazole)-8-hydroxyquinoline ligands form mononuclear nine-coordinate complexes with neodymium, [Nd(kappa(3)-ligand)(3)], and an eight-coordinate complex with ytterbium, [Yb(kappa(3)-ligand)(2) x (kappa(1)-ligand) x H(2)O], as verified by crystallographic characterization of five complexes with four different ligands. The chemical stability of the complexes increases when the ligand contains 5,7-dihalo-8-hydroxyquinoline versus an 8-hydroxyquinoline group. The complexes feature a ligand-centered visible absorption band with a maximum at 508-527 nm and an intensity of (7.5-9.6) x 10(3) M(-1) x cm(-1). Upon excitation with UV and visible light within ligand absorption transitions, the complexes display characteristic lanthanide luminescence in the near-infrared at 850-1450 nm with quantum yields and lifetimes in the solid state at room temperature as high as 0.33% and 1.88 micros, respectively. The lanthanide luminescence in the complexes is enhanced upon halogenation of the 5,7-positions in the 8-hydroxyquinoline group and upon the addition of electron-donating substituents to the benzoxazole ring. Facile modification of chromophore units in 2-(2'-benzoxazole)-8-hydroxyquinoline ligands provides means for controlling the luminescence properties of their lanthanide complexes.