Preparation of single enantiomers of chiral at metal bis-cyclometallated iridium complexes

Reaction of [Ir((CN)-N-boolean AND)(2)Cl](2) with chiral bidentate (NOH)-O-boolean AND ligands provides complexes [Ir((CN)-N-boolean AND)(2)((NO)-O-boolean AND)] as a 1:1 mixture of diastereomers which can be separated by crystallisation. A pure diastereomer can be converted to [Ir((CN)-N-boolean AND)(2)(bipy)][CF3CO2] with complete retention of stereochemistry at the metal.