Here, we demonstrate facile [4 + 4] coordination-driven self-assembly
of cyclometalated iridium(III) using linear aryldiisocyanide bridging
ligands (BLs). A family of nine new [Ir(C^N)2(μ-BL)]4
4+ coordination cages is described, where C^N is
the cyclometalating ligand2-phenylpyridine (ppy), 2-phenylbenzothiazole
(bt), or 1-phenylisoquinoline (piq)and BL is the diisocyanide
BL, with varying spacer lengths between the isocyanide binding sites.
These supramolecular coordination compounds are prepared via a one-pot
synthesis, with isolated yields of 40–83%. 1H NMR
spectroscopy confirms the selective isolation of a single product,
which is affirmed to be the M4L4 square by high-resolution
mass spectrometry. Detailed photophysical studies were carried out
to reveal the nature of the luminescent triplet states in these complexes.
In most cases, phosphorescence arises from the [Ir(C^N)2]+ nodes, with the emission color determined by the cyclometalating
ligand. However, in two cases, the lowest-energy triplet state resides
on the aromatic core of the BL, and weak phosphorescence from that
state is observed. This work shows that aromatic diisocyanide ligands
enable coordination-driven assembly of inert iridium(III) nodes under
mild conditions, producing supramolecular coordination complexes with
desirable photophysical properties.