Iridium(III) chloride is used in iridium electroplating, in making the standard meter bar of Paris and crucibles. It is used for high temperature electrical contacts, as hardening agent, in tipping pens and compass bearings and Pt/Ir spark plugs.

Iridium(III) chloride is used as a precursor to other Ir(III) and Ir(I) inorganic and organometallic compounds.

A new cyclometalated iridium(III) complex [Ir(L)2(Hdcbpy)] (1) has been synthesized, where L is 1-benzyl-2-phenylbenzimidazole and Hdcbpy is monoprotonated 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine. The structure of complex 1 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The optical properties of complex 1 have been studied, and the quantum yield of luminescence has been measured.

IRIDIUM TRICHLORIDE FOR SYNTHESIS IR 46%