Blue and Near-UV Phosphorescence from Iridium Complexes with Cyclometalated Pyrazolyl or N -Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

Two approaches are reported to achieve efficient blue to near-UV emission from triscyclometalated iridium(III) materials related to the previously reported complex, fac-Ir(ppz)(3) (ppz = 1-phenylpyrazolyl-N,C(2)'). The first involves replacement of the phenyl group of the ppz ligand with a 9,9-dimethyl-2-fluorenyl group, i.e., fac-tris(1-[(9,9-dimethyl-2-fluorenyl)]pyrazolyl-N,C(2)')iridium(III), abbreviated as fac-Ir(flz)(3). Crystallographic analysis reveals that both fac-Ir(flz)(3) and fac-Ir(ppz)(3) have a similar coordination environment around the Ir center. The absorption and emission spectra of fac-Ir(flz)(3) are red shifted from those of fac-Ir(ppz)(3). The fac-Ir(flz)(3) complex gives blue…