Phosphorescent Ir(III) complexes derived from purine nucleobases

Abstract

We report the preparation and the study of new types of neutral and cationic phosphorescent heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes derived from 6-phenylpurine nucleosides and nucleotides. Neutral complexes of general formula Ir(C^N)2(acac) 7, and 8a–c (HC^N = 9-substituted-6-phenyl purine) are orange-red emissive upon photoexcitation, with short lifetimes and good quantum yields (0.42–0.65) in both PMMA films and 2-MeTHF at room temperature. In turn, cationic complexes [Ir(C^N)2(dtb-bpy)][PF6] 9, 12a and 12c (dtb-bpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-dipyridine) are yellow-green emitters with moderate quantum yields (0.24–0.32)