NOVELTY - Phosphorescent complex (I) comprising metal ion, ligand and organic charge transporting groups, is new.    USE - As a phosphorescent or electroluminescent complex used as light emitter, light absorber, charge transport material and light emitting material particularly in an optoelectronic element chosen from: organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), light-emitting electrochemical cells, OLED-sensors, particularly for gas and vapor sensors that are not hermetically sealed, organic photodiodes, organic diodes, organic solar cells, organic field effect transistors, organic lasers, down-conversion systems, and lighting devices; as a light emitter in a sensor element, e.g. for the detection of O2. The opto-electronic element implemented as an element chosen from: organic light-emitting element, organic photodiode, organic diode, organic solar cell, organic transistor, light-emitting electrochemical cell, organic field effect transistors, organic laser, and down-conversion systems; and used for transforming UV light into visible light or for transforming blue light into green or red light (down-conversion) (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The charge transport units facilitate hole and/or electron transport to the molecular center and allow for efficient exciton formation directly on the emitter complex. The presence of the charge transport groups (ctg)s on each ligand provides a good shielding with respect to interactions to the environment. Thus, emission quenching is strongly reduced and materials with high emission quantum yields are obtained. The presence of the ctgs on each ligand increases the separations between the emitting cores of different molecules and thus reduces undesired quenching by triplet-triplet annihilation or self-quenching effects. The complexes are highly soluble in many organic solvents and thus are well suited for wet-chemical processing. The complex is suitable for high brightness applications with less roll-off tendency, particularly for OLED lighting applications.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Phosphorescent complex of formula (I) comprising metal ion, ligand and organic charge transporting groups, is new.    M=metal ion, particularly heavy metal or lanthanide, preferably a d-block element;    lig=a ligand with a conjugated pi -electronic system and is bound to the metal ion M and comprises at least two aromatic rings that are preferably covalently-linked to each other or fused together;    ctg=an organic charge transporting group for transporting holes or electrons and for improving the solubility of the complex in an organic solvent, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, toluene, or tetrahydrofuran (where ctg preferably comprises an aryl or a heteroaryl that preferably comprises a nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and/or phosphorus atom);    n, m, o, p=0-4;or    n+m+o+p=3 or 4;    L=an optional neutral mono-dentate ligand, which is present when the metal ion M is a lanthanide metal ion with 9 coordination sites (preferably amine, imine, p-substituted pyridine, ether, isocyanate, isonitrile, nitrile, carbonyl, or a N-heterocycle);    T'=bidentate negatively charged ligand that may be selected from: beta -diketonate, nacnac, N-alkylsalicylimine, 2-picolinate, bidentate pyrazolyl-borate, 1,2-nido-carboranediphosphines, 1,2-nido-carboranediisocyanides, 1,2-nido-carboranediarsenates, singly negatively charged diamines, singly negatively charged diphosphines, singly negatively charged diarsines, singly negatively charged bis-guanidine, bidentate negatively charged thiolates, bidentate negatively charged alcoholates or bidentate negatively charged phenolates.    Where the sum of n, m, o, p is 2 for a metal ion M with 4 coordination sites, 3 for a metal ion M with 6 coordination sites, and 4 for a metal ion M with 8 or 9 coordination sites. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) producing an opto-electronic element, using complex (I);    (2) influencing or changing the characteristics of emission and/or absorption of an electronic element, involving adding the complex (I) to a matrix material for transferring electrons or holes in the opto-electronic element.