TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preparation (Claimed): Preparation of (I) comprises reaction of an iridium trichloride hydrate with an excess of hydrate of formula (L1aH) in the presence of silver trifluoroacetate (3 equivalents) and optionally in the presence of a solvent to give iridium metal complexes of formula (Ir(L1a)3) (representative of (I)). Preferred Components: The device further comprises a hole transport layer including polyvinyl-carbazole, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine, 1,1-bis((di-4-tolylamino)phenyl)cyclohexane, N,N'-bis(4-methylphenyl)-N,N'-bis(4-ethylphenyl)-(1,1'-(3,3'-dimethyl)biphenyl)4,4'-diamine, tetrakis-(3- methylphenyl)-N,N,N',N'-2,5-phenylenediamine, alpha-phenyl-4-N,N-diphenylamino styrene, para-(diethylamino)benzaldehyde diphenylhydrazone, triphenylamine, bis(4-(N,N-diethylamino)-2-methylphenyl)(4- methylphenyl)methane, 1-phenyl-3-(para-(diethylamino)styryl)-5-(para-(diethylamino)phenyl)pyrazoline, 1,2-trans-bis(9H-carbazol-9-yl)cyclobutane, N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (4-methylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-di-alpha-naphthyl-N,N'-diphenyl-4,4'-diphenyldiamine and/or porphyrinic compounds, or electron transporting materials, such as tris(8-hydroxyquinolato)aluminum, bis(2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinaolato)(para-phenylphenolato)aluminum and/or tetrakis(8-hydroxyquinolato)zirconium. SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - 346 Compounds (I) are specifically claimed e.g. iridium complex of formulae (Ia-Ie).    EXAMPLE - Ethoxyethanol (50 ml) was added to 2,6,8-triphenyl-benzo(gh)pyrimidine (2 g, 4.62 mmol) and iridium(III) chloride hydrate (0.81 g, 2.22 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred under nitrogen at 120 degrees C for 24 hours and was then cooled to 25 degrees C. Water (20 ml) was added to the reaction mixture and the mixture was worked up to give complex of formula (AA). Sodium carbonate (1.12 g, 10.5 mmol) was added to complex (AA) (2.3 g, 1.05 mmol) and pentane-2,4-dione (530 mg, 5.27 mmol). Ethoxyethanol (50 ml) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 24 hours at 120 degrees C under nitrogen and cooled to 25 degrees C. Water (20 ml) was added to the mixture and worked up to give complex (Ic).