Highly soluble phthalocyanines with hexadeca tert-butyl substituents

A phthalonitrile derivative bearing 2,4-di-tert-butylphenoxy substituents at peripheral positions was synthesized; subsequent cyclotetramerization in DMF and hexanol furnished the desired zinc (II), magnesium (II), copper (II) and nickel (II) phthalocyanines. These metallo-phthalocyanines were highly soluble in solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, n-hexane and DMF. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by elemental analyses, IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, electronic spectra and mass spectroscopic methods. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.