Synthesis and characterization of a new tetracationic phthalocyanine

Metal-free 3 and metallophthalocyanines 4, 5 (N=Co, Zn) with four, peripheral 4-pyridylmethyloxy groups were synthesized by cyclotetramerization of 4-(4-pyridylmethyloxy)-phthalonitrile (2). The zinc derivative 5 was converted into the water-soluble quaternized product 6 by its reaction with methyl iodide. The new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR and their mass and electronic spectra. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.