The synthesis and characterization of Cp∗Ir complexes containing ortho-functionalized 1,3-bis(aryl)triazenide ligands has been carried out. The molecular structures of all of the complexes confirm the bonding of the triazenide ligands as chelates. Display omitted •Bis(aryl)triazene including hydroxymethyl groups was synthesized and characterized.•Iridium (III) bis(aryl)triazenide complexes were synthesized and characterized.•Molecular structures of the four iridium triazenide complexes were obtained.•Triazenide coordination as monoanionic bidentate ligands was confirmed. Iridium (III) 1,3-bis(aryl)triazenide complexes Cp∗IrCl(ArNNNAr′) (Cp∗=C5Me5, Ar=Ar′=C6H5, 1; Ar=Ar′=o-CF3-C6H4, 2; Ar=Ar′=o-HOCH2-C6H4, 3; Ar=o-HOCH2-C6H4, Ar′=p-CH3-C6H4, 4) have been obtained by reaction of iridium dimer Cp∗IrCl22 with the corresponding triazenes in the presence of NEt3 in CH3CN. The iridium complexes 1–4 were characterized by IR, ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy. In all of the complexes, the triazenes are coordinated to iridium (III) as monoanionic bidentate N,N′-donor ligands. Compounds 1–4 are the first examples studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction of mononuclear bis(aryl)triazenide iridium complexes, where the N-N-N fragment effectively chelates the Ir (III) central atom.