Highly Efficient, Selective, and General Method for the Preparation of Meridional Homo- and Heteroleptic Tris-cyclometalated Iridium Complexes

A highly efficient and general method based on transmetalation with an organozinc reagent is developed for selective preparation of homo- and heteroleptic meridional tris-cyclometalated iridium complexes. The molecular structure of mer-Ir(1-piq)2(ppy) (2) has been determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The emission properties of a series of meridional complexes are reported.