Synthesis, characteristics and photoluminescent properties of novel Ir–Eu heteronuclear complexes containing 2-carboxyl-pyrimidine as a bridging ligand

Two novel iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(dfppy)(2)(pmc)] and [Ir(ppy)(2)(pmc)] (dfppy = 2-(4',6'-difluoro-phenyl)pyridine, ppy = 1-phenyl-pyridine), were designed and synthesized using 2-carboxyl-pyrimidine (Hpmc) as an ancillary ligand. Single crystals were obtained and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The tetrametallic complexes {[(C^N)(2)Ir(μ-pmc)](3)EuCl(3)} (C^N = dfppy, ppy) were synthesized using the iridium(III) complexes as "ligands". Photophysical and theoretical studies indicate that [Ir(dfppy)(2)(pmc)] is more suitable for sensitizing the emission of Eu(III) ions than [Ir(ppy)(2)(pmc)].