Ester-substituted cyclometallated rhodium and iridium coordination assemblies with π-bonded dioxolene ligand: synthesis, structures and luminescent properties

A series of functionalized cyclometallated rhodium and iridium coordination assemblies 2–7 displaying a π-bonded dioxolene ligand is described. The X-ray molecular structures of two of the above compounds showed the formation of a 1D supramolecular chain mediated by π–π interactions among individual units. The luminescent properties of these compounds are presented and discussed. These results show that the stacking interactions are retained also in solution and emission from excited dimeric species is observed.