3-coordinate copper(I)-carbene complexes

1. A phosphorescent complex comprising a carbene ligand coordinate a three coordinate copper atom, wherein the phosphorescent complex has the formula:

wherein *C is a divalent carbon atom coordinated to monovalent copper atom Cu:

wherein X 1 and X 2 are substituents independently selected from alkyl, amine, phosphine, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

wherein X 1 and X 2 may be further substituted;

wherein X 1 and X 2 are optionally linked to form a cycle;

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are substituents that are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, heteroalky, aryl and heteroaryl;

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 may be further substituted;

wherein each of Y 1 and Y 2 form a bond with Cu;

wherein Y 1 -Y 2 represent a bidentate ligand or two mondentate ligands (Y 1 and Y 2 );

wherein a first bond is formed between Cu and an atom Y′ 1 in substituent Y 1 and a second bond is formed between Cu and an atom Y′ 2 in substituent Y 2 ;

wherein (i) Y′ 1 is N and Y′ 2 is selected from the group consisting of N, C, P, O, S and Se, (ii) Y′ 1 is C and Y′ 2 is selected from the group consisting of C, P, and O, or (iii) Y′ 1 and Y′ 2 are P; and

wherein the carbene ligand is monodentate.

2. The complex of claim 1 , wherein each of X 1 and X 2 independently forms a bond with *C;

wherein a first bond is formed between *C and an atom X′ 1 in substituent X 1 ;

wherein a second bond is formed between *C and an atom X′ 2 in substituent X 2 ; and

wherein X′ 1 and X′ 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of C, N, O, S and P.

3. The complex of claim 1 , wherein the complex has the formula:

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are joined.

4. The complex of claim 3 , wherein Y 1 -Y 2 is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of NR, O, S, Se, CR 2 , and CO;

wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, ammino, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryialkyl, heteroakyl, aryl and heteroaryl; and

wherein each ring is further substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

5. The complex of claim 3 , wherein Y 1 -Y 2 is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of NR, O, S, Se, CR 2 , and CO;

wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; and

wherein each ring is further substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

6. The complex of claim 1 , wherein Y 1 -Y 2 is/are an unconjugated, monoanionic ligand containing BY 4 − , SO 3 Y − , CY 4 31 , SiO 4 31 , OY 2 − , or SY 2 − , and wherein each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteralkyl and heteroaryl.

7. The complex of claim 6 , wherein ligand Y 1 -Y 2 comprises two monodentate ligands, one of which is BY 4 − .

8. The complex of claim 7 , wherein ligand Y 1 -Y 2 has the formula:

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, triazinyl, tertrazinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl and phosphine;

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are optionally extended by fusion;

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are optionally further substituted with alkyl, aryl, donor or acceptor groups; and

Y 3 and Y 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteralkyl and heteroaryl.

9. The complex of claim 6 , wherein Y 1 -Y 2 is a bidentate ligand having the formula BY 4 − .

10. The complex of claim 9 , wherein the ligand Y 1 -Y 2 is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, triazinyl, tetrazinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, benzoxazoly, benzothiazolyl and phosphine;

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are optionally extended by fusion;

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are optionally further substituted with alkyl, aryl, donor or acceptor groups;

wherein Y′ 1 -Y″ 4 represents a neutral chelating ligand; and

wherein Y 3 and Y 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteralkyl and heteroaryl.

11. The complex of claim 6 , wherein Y 1 -Y 2 is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

12. The complex of claim 1 , wherein the complex comprises two copper (I) centers.

13. The complex of claim 1 , wherein the carbene ligand is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; and

wherein z is 1, 2, 3, or 4.

14. The complex of claim 1 , wherein the complex is selected from the group consisting of:

15. The complex of claim 1 , wherein the complex has the formula:

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 , are substituents that are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 may be further substituted;

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are not joined; and

wherein each of Y 1 and Y 2 for a bond with Cu.

16. The complex of claim 15 , wherein a Cu—Y 1 -Y 2 structure of the complex is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

17. The complex of claim 1 , wherein the carbene ligand is bidentate.

18. The complex of claim 17 , wherein the complex is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, amino, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; and

wherein X is a monodentate ligand.

19. The complex of claim 1 , wherein the complex is included in a polymer, a dendritic complex, or a small molecule.

20. A phosphorescent complex selected from the group consisting of:

21. A first device comprising an organic light emitting device, further comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

an organic layer, disposed between the anode and the cathode, the organic layer further comprising a phosphorescent complex itself comprising a three coordinate copper atom and a carbene ligand, wherein phosphorescent complex has the formula:

wherein *C is a divalent carbon atom coordinated to a monovalent copper atom Cu;

wherein X 1 and X 2 are substituents independently selected from alkyl, amine, phosphine, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

wherein X 1 and X 2 may be further substituted;

wherein X 1 and X 2 are optionally linked to form a cycle;

wherein Y 1 and Y 2 are substituents that are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

wherein Y 1 Y 2 may be further substituted;

wherein each of Y 1 and Y 2 form a bond with Cu;

wherein Y 1 -Y 2 represents a bidentate ligand or two monodentate ligands (Y 1 and Y 2 );

wherein a first bond is formed between Cu and an atom Y′ 1 in substituent Y 1 and a second bond is formed between Cu and an atom Y′ 2 in substituent Y 2

wherein (i) Y′ 1 is N and Y′ 2 is selected from the group consisting of N, C, P, O, S and Se, (ii) Y′ 1 is C and Y′ 2 is selected from the group consisting of C, P and O, or (iii) Y′ 1 and Y′ 2 are P; and

wherein the carbene ligand is monodentate.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the first device is a consumer product.

23. The device of claim 21 , wherein the first device is an organic light emitting device.