Syntheses, characterisation and photophysical studies of novel biological labelling reagents derived from luminescent iridium(III) terpyridine complexes

A series of new luminescent iridium(III) terpyridine complexes functionalised with an isothiocyanate group, [Ir(tpy-R)(tpy-C₆H₄-NCS-p)](PF₆)₃ [R = H (1), C₆H₅ (2), C₆H₄-CH₃-p (3), C₆H₄-Cl-p (4)] has been synthesised, characterised and their photophysical properties studied; the X-ray crystal structure of one of the intermediate complexes, [Ir(tpy-C₆H₄-Cl-p)(CF₃SO₃) ₃] (4b), has also been determined; complex 1 has been used as a luminescent label for proteins.