Phosphorescent 2-, 3- and 4-coordinate cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) Cu(i) complexes.

The photophysical properties of several Cu(i) complexes coordinated with cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) ligands were examined. All the compounds were found to be phosphorescent, regardless of whether they are 2-, 3- or 4-coordinated. Aggregate and excimer emission were observed from 2-coordinate CAAC-CuCl derivatives in methylcyclohexane solution. Emission from the complex 4-coordinated with a trispyrazolylborate ligand is red-shifted with respect to both the chloro-derivative and an analogous complex with an NHC ligand.