Patent ID: 8519130

Claim:
A process for making an Ir(L a )(L b )(L c ) complex, comprising: reacting an intermediate having the formula (L a )(L b )IrX with L c to produce an Ir(L a )(L b )(L c ) complex, where L a , L b and L c are, independently, bidentate cyclometallated ligands having the formula: where R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R′ 3 , R′ 4 , R′ 5 , and R′ 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylaryl, CN, NO 2 , halo, aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl, substituted heteroaryl, or a heterocyclic group; where at least one of R 6 or R′ 3 is not hydrogen, and R 6 or R′ 3 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylaryl, CN, CO 2 R, C(O)R, NR 2 , NO 2 , OR, halo, aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl, substituted heteroaryl, and a heterocyclic group; X is