Electrochemistry and spectroscopy of ortho-metalated complexes of iridium(III) and rhodium(III)

The electrochemical and UV-visible spectroscopic properties of Rh(III) and Ir(III) complexes of the ortho-metalating (NC) ligands, 2-phenylpyridine (ppy) and benzo(h)quinone (bzq), have been studied. Cyclic voltammetric studies of several of the dimeric species, (M(NC)/sub 2/Cl)/sub 2/, indicate metal-centered oxidation occurs at moderate potentials. Cationic monomers of the type M(NC)/sub 2/(NN)/sup +/ where (NN) = 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline have been prepared by reaction of the chelating ligands with the parent dimers. Cyclic voltammetric studies of these monomers indicate that several reversible ligand-centered reductions are generally observed and that the chelating ligand is more easily reduced than is the ortho-metalating ligand. Spectroscopic studies of the mixed ligand monomers indicate that dual emissions from MLCT states associated with the ortho-metalating and chelating ligands occur in the Ir(III) complexes whereas a single emission from a ligand-localized excited state is observed in the Rh(III) complexes. These results are discussed in terms of electronic and nuclear coupling factors analogous to those encountered in descriptions of bimolecular energy and electron-transfer processes.