Tuning the Luminescence of Transition Metal Complexes with Acyclic Diaminocarbene Ligands
Organometallics featuring acyclic diaminocarbene (ADC) ligands have recently emerged as powerful emitters for use in OLEDs and other electroluminescent technologies. Owing to strong σ-donor properties and broad synthetic availability, ADCs have successfully challenged the application of other ancillary ligands for fine-tuning of luminescence emission. This review systematises the data reported concerning the preparation of the luminescent metal complexes bearing ADC ligands, uncover their photophysical properties as a function of carbene ligand structure and metal characteristics as well as draw attention to the potential that application of metal-ADCs provides to the family of transition-metal-based phosphors.