(2-Benzoyl-1-phenylethenolato-κ2O,O′)bis[2-(1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)phenyl-κC1]iridium(III) dichloromethane disolvate

We present here synthesis and crystal structure of a neutral IrIII complex, [Ir(C19H13N2)2(C15H11O2)]·2CH2Cl2 or [Ir(C^N)2O^O]·2CH2Cl2, where C^N is 1,2-diphenyl-1H-benzimidazole and O^O is 2-benzoyl-1-phenylethenolate. The coordination sphere of the IrIII atom, located on a twofold rotation axis, is that of a slighlty distorted C2N2O2 octahedron, with the N atoms in a trans configuration. In the crystal, complex molecules assemble through weak C—H...π interactions in the range 2.699 (3)–2.892 (3) Å. The solvent CH2Cl2 molecules reside in channels aligned along the a axis and are connected to the complex molecules by C—H...O interactions.