Compounds comprising phosphorus-containing metal complexes can be used in electroluminescent devices and have an emission maximum closer to the blue region of the visible light spectrum. The complexes can be used within an organic active layer in electronic devices, such as displays, detectors, voltaic cells, solid-state lighting, illumination devices or the like. The complexes may also be used as catalysts or as indicators in other applications. The new compounds can be used without the need of a host material. In non-limiting embodiments, Pt or Ir may be used for the metal atom within the complex, one ligand may include a phosphorus-containing bidentate ligand, and another ligand may include a monoanionic bidentate ligand. The phosphorus-containing bidentate ligand may include a benzyl group, a phenoxy group, a phenylamino group, or the like.