Synthesis, Structure, Optical, and Electrochemical Properties of Iridium(III) Complexes with 2-Arylphenantroimidazoles and Dibenzoylmethane

New cyclometalated neutral iridium(III) complexes [Ir(L)2(dbm)] have been synthesized, where L is 2-arylphenanthroimidazoles with various electron-donor or acceptor substituents, dbm is dibenzoyl-methane. The compositions and structures of the ligands and complexes have been studied by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution mass spectrometry. In the absorption spectra of the complexes, a bathochromic shift of the absorption maxima is observed with an increase in the electron donor properties of the ligands. All the complexes show the reversible redox behavior; redox potentials fall in the range of 0.8–1.6 V. The combination of the obtained results allows us to consider the synthesized compounds as potential photosensitizers in solar cells.