Phenyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazoles as new cyclometalating ligands for iridium(III) complexes

We report on the synthesis and characterization of bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes with 4-phenyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazole, synthesized via a "click"-chemistry approach, as a new type of cyclometalating ligand. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these complexes are investigated experimentally as well as theoretically by using density functional theory. The properties of these new complexes are compared to their known 2-phenylpyridinato analogues. The emission of the herein described complexes is clearly influenced by the applied ancillary ligand and can be adjusted over a broad range of frequencies. The results indicate that the phenyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazole ligands in general cause a spectral blue shift.