Color tuning of iridium complexes – Part I: Substituted phenylisoquinoline-based iridium complexes as the triplet emitter

A series of new iridium complexes with isoquinoline derivative ligands were synthesized for application in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). It is demonstrated that varying the substituents at the 2′- or 4′-positions of the isoquinoline ligand makes the color tuning possible. Because of the steric effect, the 6′-substituted complexes: bis[1-(6′-methyl)phenylisoquinolinato-N,C2′] iridium(III) (acetylacetonate) (6b1), bis[1-(6′-trifluoromethyl)phenylisoquinolinato-N,C2′] iridium(III) (acetylacetonate) (6b2), and bis[1-(6′-methoxy)phenylisoquinolinato-N,C2′] iridium(III) (acetylacetonate) (6b3) show red-shift effect with respect to the 4′-substituted complexes: bis[1-(4′-methyl)phenylisoquinolinato-N,C2′] iridium(III) (acetylacetonate) (6a1), bis[1-(4′-trifluoromethyl)phenylisoquinolinato-N,C2′] iridium(III) (acetylacetonate) (6a2), and bis[1-(4′-methoxy)phenylisoquinolinato-N,C2′] iridium(III) (acetylacetonate) (6a3). All of these complexes are suitable for the red phosphorescent materials in OLEDs.