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.