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.