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)2Ir(μ-pmc)]3EuCl3} (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)].