Iridium(III) complexes with orthometalated phenylimidazole ligands subtle turning of emission to the saturated green colour.

A series of novel six iridium complexes (1-6) bearing two substituted phenylimidazole and an additional acetylacetone as the third co-auxilary ligand are reported. The lowest absorption band for all iridium complexes consist of a mixture of heavy atom Ir(III) enhanced (3)MLCT and (3) π-π* transitions and the phosphorescent peak wavelength can be fine-tuned to cover the spectral range 455-518 nm with high quantum efficiencies. The peak wavelength of the dopants can be finely tuned depending upon the electronic properties of the substituents. On the basis of onset potentials of the oxidation and reduction, the HOMO-LUMO energies were calculated and the reported iridium complexes emit green light with exceeding higher efficiency. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010