Benchmark lipophilic ligands with the advantages and existing problems to be solved. The numbers in BTPs (2) were for the easy discussion of α-effect on triazine rings. Red circles in CyMe4-BTBP (3) and CyMe4-BTPhen (4) showed the absence of benzylic H-atoms to enhance the ligands’ radiation stability. The blue circles in PhenDA (5) indicated the coordination sites of the ligand.