Tris-cyclometalated Ir Complexes Research Articles

Stereospecific Synthesis of Tris-heteroleptic Tris-cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes via Different Heteroleptic Halogen-Bridged Iridium(III) Dimers and Their Photophysical Properties

Herein, we report on the stereospecific synthesis of two single isomers of tris-heteroleptic tris-cyclometalated iridium(III) (Ir(III)) complexes composed of three different nonsymmetric cyclometalating ligands via heteroleptic halogen-bridged Ir dimers [Ir(tpy)(F2ppy)(μ-Br)]2 17b and [Ir(mpiq)(F2ppy)(μ-Br)]2 27b (tpyH: (2-(4'-tolyl)pyridine) and F2ppyH: (2-(4',6'-difluorophenyl)pyridine), and mpiqH: (1-(4'-methylphenyl)isoquinoline)) prepared by Zn2+-promoted degradation of Ir(tpy)2(F2ppy) 21 and Ir(mpiq)2(F2ppy) 26, as reported by us. Subsequently, 17b and 27b were converted to the tris-heteroleptic tris-cyclometalated Ir complexes Ir(tpy)(F2ppy)(mpiq) 25 consisting of tpy, F2ppy, and mpiq, as confirmed by spectroscopic data and X-ray crystal structure analysis. The first important point in this work is the selective synthesis of specific isomers among eight possible stereoisomers of Ir complexes having the same combination of three cyclometalating ligands. Namely, two meridional forms of 25 were synthesized and isolated. The second finding is that the different stereoisomers of 25 have different stability. Finally, different stereoisomers exhibit different emission spectra. Namely, one of its stereoisomers 25a exhibits a single broad emission from ca. 550 nm to ca. 650 nm (orange emission), while stereoisomer 25c emits dual emission at ca. 509 nm and ca. 600 nm (pale pink emission), as supported by time-dependent density functional theory calculation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the selective and efficient synthesis of different stereoisomers of tris-heteroleptic tris-cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes that have different stabilities and different photophysical properties.

Efficient Synthesis of Tris-Heteroleptic Iridium(III) Complexes Based on the Zn2+-Promoted Degradation of Tris-Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes and Their Photophysical Properties.

We report on the efficient synthesis of tris-heteroleptic iridium (Ir) complexes based on the degradation of tris-cyclometalated Ir complexes (IrL3, L: cyclometalating ligand) in the presence of Brønsted and Lewis acids such as HCl (in 1,4-dioxane), AlCl3, TMSCl, and ZnX2 (X = Br or Cl), which affords the corresponding halogen-bridged Ir dimers (μ-complexes). Tris-cyclometalated Ir complexes containing electron-withdrawing groups such as fluorine, nitro, or CF3 moieties on the ligands were less reactive. This different reactivity was applied to the selective degradation of heteroleptic Ir complexes such as fac-Ir(tpy)2(F2ppy) (fac-12) (tpy: 2-(4'-tolyl)pyridine and F2ppy: 2-(4',6'-difluorophenyl)pyridine), mer-Ir(tpy)2(F2ppy) (mer-12), and mer-Ir(mpiq)2(F2ppy) (mer-15) (mpiq: 1-(4'-methylphenyl)isoquinoline). For example, the reaction of mer-12 with ZnBr2 gave the heteroleptic μ-complex [{Ir(tpy)(F2ppy)(μ-Br)}2] 27b as a major product, resulting from the selective elimination of the tpy ligand of mer-12, and treatment of 27b with acetylacetone (acacH) afforded the corresponding tris-heteroleptic Ir complex Ir(tpy)(F2ppy)(acac)18. In addition, another tris-heteroleptic Ir complex 35a having 8-benzenesulfonylamidoquinoline (8BSQ) ligand was synthesized. Mechanistic studies of this degradation reaction and the photochemical properties, especially a dual emission, of these newly synthesized tris-heteroleptic Ir complexes are also reported.

Design and Synthesis of Functional Molecules Based on Complexation and Their Biological Applications.

In this review, we introduce the development of supermolecules, host-guest complexes, and metal complexes formed from the combination of non-covalent interactions and/or coordination bonds, as well as their biological applications. An adenine selective host molecule 1 provides a correctly oriented array of complementary hydrogen bonding sites for the adenine nucleobase. Furthermore, the new DDAA (D: hydrogen bond donor, A: hydrogen bond acceptor) module 4 and ADDA module 7 have been developed as quadruple hydrogen-bonding modules. A quadruple zwitterion 8 forms supramolecular gel in dimethyl sulfoxide, driven by the formation of ion-paired dimers between the zwitterionic units. The obtained supramolecular gel exhibits reversible gel-sol transitions in response to both acid, base, and heating. Self-assembly of a dimeric zinc(II) complex, dianion of cyanuric acid (CA) or 5,5-diethylbarbituric acid (Bar), and copper(II) ion (Cu2+) in an aqueous solution provides 4 : 4 : 4 and 2 : 2 : 2 supermolecules 10 and 11, respectively. These supermolecules possess Cu2(μ-OH)2 centers, and accelerate the hydrolysis of a phosphate monoester dianion, mono(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate (MNP), at neutral pH. Regioselective substitution reactions of tris-cyclometalated iridium (Ir) complexes at the 5'-position on 2-phenylpyridine type ligands, and their subsequent conversions to a variety of functional groups are described. For example, pH-sensitive Ir complexes having basic functional groups have been developed. Tris-cyclometalated Ir complexes containing cationic peptides, such as Lys-Lys-Gly-Gly (KKGG) peptides, work as inducers and detectors of cancer cell death. Mechanistic studies suggest that the Ir complex interacts with anionic molecules on the cell surface and/or membrane receptors to trigger an intracellular Ca2+ response, resulting in necrosis accompanied by membrane disruption.

Design and Synthesis of Amphiphilic and Luminescent Tris-Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes Containing Cationic Peptides as Inducers and Detectors of Cell Death via a Calcium-Dependent Pathway.

Cationic amphiphilic peptides have the potential to function as agents for the treatment of microbial infections and cancer therapy. The cationic and hydrophobic parts of these molecules allow them to associate strongly with negatively charged bacterial or cancer cell membranes, thus exerting antimicrobial and anticancer activities through membrane disruption. Meanwhile, cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes such as fac-Ir(ppy)3 (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine) and fac-Ir(tpy)3 (tpy = 2-(4'-tolyl)pyridine) possess C3-symmetric structures and excellent photophysical properties as phosphorescence materials, which make them important candidates for use in biological applications such as chemosensors, biolabeling, living cell staining, in vivo tumor imaging, and anticancer agents. We recently reported on some regioselective substitution reactions of Ir(tpy)3 and Ir(ppy)3 at the 5'-position (p-position with respect to the C-Ir bond) on the 2-phenylpyridine ligands and their subsequent conversions to a variety of functional groups. We report here on the design and synthesis of amphiphilic and luminescent tris-cyclometalated Ir complexes in which cationic peptides are attached through alkyl chain linkers that work as inducers and detectors of cell death. Ir complexes containing cationic peptides such as a KKGG sequence and alkyl chain linkers of adequate length (C6 and C8) exhibit considerable cytotoxicity against cancer cells such as Jurkat, Molt-4, HeLa-S3, and A549 cells, and that dead cells are well stained with these Ir complexes. Furthermore, an Ir complex in which the KKGG peptide is attached through a C6 linker displayed lower cytotoxicity against normal mouse lymphocytes. Mechanistic studies suggest that Ir complexes containing the KKGG peptide interact with anionic molecules on the cell surface and/or membrane receptors to trigger the Ca(2+) dependent pathway and intracellular Ca(2+) response, resulting in necrosis accompanied by membrane disruption.

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 photoluminescence (PL) with a high efficiency (lambda(max) = 480 nm, phi(PL) = 0.38) at room temperature. The lifetime and quantum efficiency were used to determine the radiative and nonradiative rates (1.0 x 10(4) and 2.0 x 10(4) s(-1), respectively). The second approach utilizes N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands to form triscyclometalated Ir complexes. Complexes with two different NHC ligands, i.e., iridium tris(1-phenyl-3-methylimidazolin-2-ylidene-C,C(2)'), abbreviated as Ir(pmi)(3), and iridium tris(1-phenyl-3-methylbenzimidazolin-2-ylidene-C,C(2)'), abbreviated as Ir(pmb)(3), were both isolated as facial and meridianal isomers. Comparison of the crystallographic structures of the fac- and mer-isomers of Ir(pmb)(3) with the corresponding Ir(ppz)(3) isomers indicates that the imidazolyl-carbene ligand has a stronger trans influence than pyrazolyl and, thus, imparts a greater ligand field strength. Both fac-Ir(pmi)(3) and fac-Ir(pmb)(3) complexes display strong metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer absorption transitions in the UV (lambda = 270-350 nm) and phosphoresce in the near-UV region (E(0)(-)(0) = 380 nm) at room temperature with phi(PL) values of 0.02 and 0.04, respectively. The radiative decay rates for fac-Ir(pmi)(3) and fac-Ir(pmb)(3) (5 x 10(4) s(-1) and 18 x 10(4) s(-1), respectively) are somewhat higher than that of fac-Ir(flz)(3), but the nonradiative rates are two orders of magnitude faster (i.e., (2-4) x 10(6) s(-1)).