Remote modification of bidentate phosphane ligands controlling the photonic properties in their complexes: Enhanced performance of [Cu(RN-xantphos)(N^N)][PF6] in light-emitting electrochemical cells

A series of copper(I) complexes of the type [Cu(HN-xantphos)(N^N)][PF6] and [Cu(BnN-xantphos)(N^N)][PF6], in which N^N = bpy, Mebpy, and Me2bpy, HN-xantphos = 4,6-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-10H-phenoxazine and BnNxantphos = 10-benzyl-4,6-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-10H-phenoxazine is described. The single crystal structures of [Cu(HN-xantphos)(Mebpy)][PF6] and [Cu(BnN-xantphos)(Me2bpy)][PF6] confirm the presence of N^N and P^P chelating ligands with the copper(I) atoms in distorted coordination environments. Solution electrochemical and photophysical properties of the BnNxantphos- containing compounds (for which the highest-occupied molecular orbital is located on the phenoxazine moiety) are repor…