Cuprophilic interactions in highly luminescent dicopper(i)–NHC–picolyl complexes – fast phosphorescence or TADF?

Abstract

This case study on a series of monomeric, dimeric and polymeric Cu^I chlorido NHC–picolyl complexes shows that cuprophilic interactions can ensure strong spin–orbit coupling for fast (reverse)intersystem-crossing T₁ ↔ S₁ and T₁ → S₀, and therefore can serve as a design motif for the construction of highly efficient Cu^I-based TADF or T₁ emitters.