Ionic iridium complex coordinated with tetrathiafulvalene-fused phenanthroline ligand: Synthesis, photophysical, electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence properties

•TTF-fused phenanthroline ligand is used for the synthesis of cationic IrIII complex.•The electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence studies were performed.•Computational study agree very well with the experimental data.

A new cationic iridium(III) complex salt, [Ir(ppy)2(L)]PF6 (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine) (1), was synthesized by using tetrathiafulvalene fused 4′,5′-dimethyldithiotetrathiafulvenyl[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (L) as NˆN ancillary ligand. The photophysical, electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of the complex are investigated. Complex 1 is found to be emissive at room temperature with the λmax value at 607 nm. It is expected that this new luminescent complex 1 would be further explored for promising applications in functional emitting material.

Graphical abstractA new cationic iridium(III) complex with tetrathiafulvalene-fused phenanthroline as NˆN ancillary ligand is prepared and characterized. The photophysical, electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence behavior of the complex are investigated. Optimized geometry and electron absorption spectrum are studied based on DFT and time-dependent DFT calculations.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide