Solution, structural and photophysical aspects of substituent effects in the N^N ligand in [Ir(C^N)2(N^N)]+ complexes

The syntheses and properties of a series of eleven new [Ir(ppy)2(N^N)][PF6] complexes (Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine) are reported. The N^N ligands are based on 2,2-bipyridine (bpy), substituted in the 6- or 5-positions with groups that are structurally and electronically diverse. All but two of the N^N ligands incorporate an aromatic ring, designed to facilitate intra-cation face-to-face π-interactions between the N^N and one [ppy](-) ligand. Within the set of ligands, 6-(3-tolyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (5), 4,6-bis(4-nitrophenyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (9), and 4,6-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (10) are new and their characterization includes single crystal structures of 9, and two polymorphs o…