Palladium-catalysed direct arylation of a tris-cyclometallated Ir(iii) complex bearing 2,2′-thienylpyridine ligands: a powerful tool for the tuning of luminescence properties

Abstract

Palladium-catalysed direct 5-arylation of metallated thiophenes of fac-Ir(N⁁C^3′-thpy)₃ with aryl bromides via C–H bond functionalisation allows the synthesis of a variety of new Ir complexes in only one step (thpyH = 2,2′-thienylpyridine). The method offers simple modification of the nature of the ligand and hence of the photophysical properties of such complexes.