Effect of peripheral substitution on the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of metal-free and zinc phthalocyanines

The effect of substituents on the position and intensity of the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of phthalocyanines (Pcs) was examined for 35 Pc compounds. When electron-releasing groups are bound to four alpha-benzo positions of the Pc skeleton, the B and Q bands shift to longer wavelength. Relative to this shift, the effect of introducing the same electron-releasing groups at the other four alpha positions amounts to about 1.6-2.0. Although the effect is not always clearly seen, introduction of electron-releasing groups in the beta-benzo positions of the Pc skeleton generally shifts the Q band to shorter wavelength. The effect of electron-withdrawing groups is exactly the opposite with respect to the alpha and beta positions. These effects can be reasonably explained by considering the magnitude of the atomic orbital coefficients of the carbon atoms derived from molecular orbital (MO) calculations. In addition, the following intriguing phenomena were observed in the experiments, although not all were explained theoretically: 1) the splitting of the Q band of metal-free Pcs decreases with increasing wavelength of the Q band, 2) the ring currents of Pcs with Q bands at longer wavelength are generally smaller, and 3) the absorption coefficients of the Q band of Pc compounds with 16-electron-releasing substituents are larger than those of the corresponding tetra- and octasubstituted Pcs by several tens of percent. 4) Our PPP calculations suggested that the absorption coefficient of the Q band of Pcs with more strongly electron releasing substituents is larger. 5) The second HOMO of the Pcs with the Q band at longer wavelength has b(1u) symmetry, as opposed to the a(2u) symmetry of normal Pcs. 6) Pcs showing S1 emission maxima at wavelengths longer than about 740 nm generally have quantum yields of less than 0.1.     

Synthesis and solvent effects on the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectral properties of substituted zinc phthalocyanines

The synthesis and spectroscopic properties of the following tetra- and octa-substituted aryloxy zinc(II) phthalocyanines are reported for the first time: 1,(4)-(tetrabenzyloxyphenoxyphthalocyaninato) zinc(II) (7); 2,(3)-(tetrabenzyloxyphenoxyphthalocyaninato) zinc(II) (8); 2,3-(octabenzyloxyphenoxyphthalocyaninato) zinc(II) (9). The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy and electronic spectroscopy. Spectroscopic properties of these compounds were investigated in different solvents. Protonation of non-peripherally substituted complex 7 resulted in the splitting and red-shifting of the Q-band. The peripherally substituted derivatives 8 and 9, did not show the split in the Q-band. Fluorescence spectra of the derivatives show Stokes shifts typical of MPc complexes.     

Mercaptopyridine-substituted indium,zinc, and metal-free phthalocyanines: nonlinear optical studies in solution and on polymer matrices

In this article, the nonlinear optical characterizations and optical limiting properties of metal-free (2), zinc (3), and indium (4) tetra 4-(2-mercaptopyridine) phthalocyanines are discussed. Nonlinear optical properties of the samples were evaluated using Z-scan at 532 nm and 10 ns pulse in CHCl₃, and doped on poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PBC) thin films. Thin films for 2, 3, and 4 are represented as 2-PBC, 3-PBC, and 4-PBC, respectively. We observed two-photon absorption (2PA) and strong reverse saturable absorption as the dominant mechanisms at nanosecond laser excitation in solution and thin films. By virtue of the magnitude of absorption coefficients and other nonlinear optical parameters estimated in this work, sample 4 was found to exhibit strongest nonlinear optical properties followed by 3, while 2 is the weakest nonlinear absorber of the studied samples. Large third-order susceptibility (1.46 × 10^?9 esu and 7.74 × 10^?10 esu) and hyperpolarizability (2.13 × 10^?28 and 8.37 × 10^?29 esu) were estimated for 4-PBC and 3-PBC, respectively. Our studies show that these molecules are suitable candidates for practical passive optical limiters.     

Photophysicochemical and fluorescence quenching studies of benzyloxyphenoxy-substituted zinc phthalocyanines

Photochemical and photophysical measurements were conducted on peripheral and non-peripheral tetrakis- and octakis(4-benzyloxyphenoxy)-substituted zinc phthalocyanines (1, 2 and 3). General trends are described for photodegradation, and fluorescence quantum yields, triplet lifetimes and triplet quantum yields as well as singlet oxygen quantum yields of these compounds in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and toluene. The fluorescence of the complexes is quenched by benzoquinone (BQ), and fluorescence quenching properties are investigated in DMSO and toluene. The effects of the solvents on the photophysical and photochemical parameters of the zinc(II) phthalocyanines (1, 2 and 3) are also reported. Photophysical and photochemical properties of phthalocyanine complexes are very useful for PDT applications.     

Spectroscopy and electronic structure of electron deficient zinc phthalocyanines

The effect of introduction of perfluoro alkyl groups into phthalocyanines, as evidenced by the spectroscopic properties of 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octa-fluoro-2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octa-perfluoro isopropyl zinc phthalocyanine, ZnF(64)Pc(-2) and its ring-reduced radical anion species, [ZnF(64)Pc(-3)](-), are reported. A combination of UV-visible absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, ESI and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, and complete theoretical calculations using INDO/S and DFT techniques reveals that the substitution of all sixteen hydrogen atoms in protio ZnPc(-2) by eight F and eight i-C(3)F(7) groups red shifts the Q and pi --> pi transitions and narrows the HOMO-LUMO gap while simultaneously preventing ring photooxidation and stabilizing the radical anion. The [ZnF(64)Pc(-3)](-) species, which is in equilibrium in solution with the neutral complex when a reducing agent is present, is unusually stable. The above effects are attributed to the strong electron withdrawing properties of the peripheral substituents, which render ZnF(64)Pc extremely electron deficient.     

Novel thiol-derivatized zinc(II) phthalocyanines

Preparation and characterization of tetrasubstituted zinc(II) phthalocyanines in which sulfur is not linked to the macrocycle are reported herein for the first time. Thioacetic acid S-[3-(3,4-dicyano-phenoxy)-propyl]ester (4) was synthesized in 55% yield from 4-nitrophthalonitrile and thioacetic acid S-(3-hydroxy-propyl)ester (3). Tetrasusbtituted thiol-derivatized zinc(II) phthalocyanine 5 was obtained from 4 and zinc acetate in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene in butanol. Treatment of 5 with sodium methoxide afforded phthalocyanine 6.     

Photophysics and nonlinear absorption of cyclometalated 4,6-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl platinum(II) complexes with different acetylide ligands

The photophysical properties of a series of 4,6-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl platinum(II) complexes bearing different σ-alkynyl ancillary ligands (1a-1k) were systematically investigated. All complexes exhibit strong (1)π,π* absorption bands in the UV region; and broad, structureless charge-transfer band(s) in the visible region, which systematically red-shift(s) when the electron-donating ability of the para substituent on the phenylacetylide ligand increases. All complexes are emissive in solution at room temperature. When excited at the charge-transfer absorption band, the complexes exhibit long-lived orange emission (λ(max): 555-601 nm), which is attributed to a triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer/intraligand charge transfer emission ((3)MLCT/(3)ILCT). Most of these complexes exhibit broad triplet transient difference absorption in the visible to the near-IR region, with a lifetime comparable to those measured from the decay of the (3)MLCT/(3)ILCT emission. The reverse saturable absorption (RSA) of these complexes were demonstrated at 532 nm using nanosecond laser pulses. The degree of RSA follows this trend: 1k ≈ 1a > 1c > 1f ≈ 1i > 1h ≈ 1b > 1e > 1d > 1g, which is mainly determined by the ratio of the triplet excited-state absorption cross section to that of the ground-state and the triplet excited-state quantum yield.     

Synthesis and antimycotic activity of new unsymmetrical substituted zinc phthalocyanines

The synthesis of new unsymmetrical substituted zinc phthalocyanines derivatives has been described; moreover the photodynamic activity of some compounds tested against Candida albicans has been reported.     

Synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of substituted zinc phthalocyanines

The synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of the 4-({3,4,5-tris-[2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyloxy]benzyl}oxy) and 4-({3,4,5-tris-[2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyloxy]benzyl}thio) zinc(ii) phthalocyanines are reported for the first time. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy and mass spectra. General trends are described for photodegradation, singlet oxygen, fluorescence and triplet excited state quantum yields, and triplet state and fluorescence lifetimes of these compounds in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The fluorescence of the complexes was quenched by benzoquinone (BQ). The effects of the substitution on the photophysical and photochemical parameters of the zinc(II) phthalocyanines (6, 7 and 8) are also reported. Photophysical and photochemical properties of phthalocyanine complexes are very useful for PDT applications. The substituted Zn(II) phthalocyanines showed high triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields. High singlet oxygen quantum yields are very important for Type II mechanism. Thus, these complexes show potential as Type II photosensitizers.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis and reverse saturable absorption of phthalocyanines and porphyrins

Soluble phthalocyanines, including tetrakis(2,9,16,23-cumylphenoxy) copper phthalocyanines (CuPc(β-CP)₄), tetrakis(1,8,15,22-cumylphenoxy) copper phthalocyanines (CuPc(α-CP)₄) as well as tetrakis(2,9,16,23-tert-butyl) copper phthalocyanines (CuPc(β-t-butyl)₄), and porphyrins (5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrins; M(TBP), M=H₂, Zn, Cu, Mg, InCl, AlCl) have been quickly synthesized by microwave irradiation. Furthermore, their reverse saturable absorption have also been investigated by dissolving them in solvent or incorporating them in polymer-silica hybrid material with a sol-gel process with polyvinyl butyral and tetraethyl orthosilicate as precursors. A new method for the preparation process of phthalocyanines and porphyrins in the solids has been successfully used.     

Photophysics and nonlinear optical properties of tetra- and octabrominated silicon naphthalocyanines

The effect of the number of bromide substituents on the photophysical and nonlinear optical properties of the tetrabrominated naphthalocyanine Br4(tBu2PhO)4NcSi[OSi(Hex)3]2 (1) and the octabrominated naphthalocyanine Br8NcSi[OSi(Hex)3]2 (2) has been investigated through various spectroscopic techniques. Absorption and emission of 1 and 2 have been studied at room temperature and 77 K to determine the spectral properties of the ground and the excited states and the lifetimes and quantum yields of formation of the excited states. There is a moderate increase of the quantum yield of the triplet excited-state formation (PhiT = 0.10 vs 0.13) and a decrease of the triplet excited-state lifetime (tauT approximately 70 vs 50 mus) from 1 to 2. These can be attributed to the stronger heavy atom effect produced by the larger number of peripheral bromide substituents in 2 considering that an excited state with a triplet manifold is involved in the excitation dynamics of both complexes 1 and 2. The quantum yields of the singlet oxygen formation (PhiDelta) upon irradiation of 1 and 2 at 355 nm were also evaluated, and a value of PhiDelta(1) = PhiDelta(2) = 0.16 was obtained. In addition to that, octabrominated complex 2 displays a larger decrease of nonlinear optical transmission for nanosecond pulses at 532 nm with respect to the tetrabrominated complex 1. The nanosecond Z-scan experiments reveal that 1 and 2 exhibit both a reverse saturable absorption and a nonlinear refraction at 532 nm. However, both the sign and the magnitude of the nonlinear refraction change from 1 to 2. For picosecond Z-scan in the visible spectral region, these two complexes exhibit only reverse saturable absorption, and the excited-state absorption cross-section increases at longer wavelengths.     

Synthesis of novel alkylamino zinc(II) phthalocyanines

The synthesis of tetramethyl‐tetraphthalimidomethyl‐phthalocyaninato zinc(II) ( 6 ) and tetramethyl‐tetraaminomethyl‐phthalocyaninato zinc(II) ( 7 ) is described.     

锌酞菁类染料的氧化还原电位研究

金属酞菁染料对红光及近红外光有强吸收,并且具有半导体的性能。由于它具有性质稳定,合成方便等特点,这类染料在传统的染料、颜料工业中有着重要的地位;近年来在太阳能的利用,氧化还原反应的光敏化等方面引起了人们很大的注意。由于一般的金属酞菁染料的溶解度很差,常使它们的应用受到限制。为此,我们合成了一系列在环上带有各种取代基的锌酞菁染料(ZnPcR),以改善其溶解度,并对它们的氧化还原电位和分子结构与轨道能级之间的关系进行了研究。     

Preparation,chemical modification and absorption properties of various phthalocyanines

A series of phthalocyanines were prepared from phthalodinitrile and corresponding metal salts by means of the ‘solvent’ methods. Some experiments were also conducted in the absence of a solvent in a ‘solvent-free’ process from phthalanhydride, urea and metal chlorides. All of the prepared phthalocyanines were modified by the incorporation of desirable functional groups in order to transform the virtually insoluble phthalocyanine skeleton into more soluble forms. Derivatives soluble in polar media were prepared by means of sulphonation, while those soluble in non-polar media were produced by chlorosulphonation with the subsequent condensation of prepared sulphochlorides with primary alkyl amines.     

Ester-functionalized phthalonitriles and zinc phthalocyanines via palladium-catalyzed cyanation of 4,5-dichlorophthalates

Dicyanophthalates 3 were synthesized via Pd-catalyzed two-fold cyanation of the corresponding 4,5-dichlorophthalates with Zn(CN)₂. Appropriate modification of reaction conditions allowed one-pot synthesis of the corresponding zinc phthalocyanines 7 bearing eight peripheral alkyl ester groups. Powder X-ray diffraction study of a mesogenic zinc phthalocyanine bearing branched alkyl substituents revealed a rare case of a transition between two columnar rectangular liquid crystalline mesophases with different symmetry.     

Octathienyl/phenyl-substituted zinc phthalocyanines J-aggregated through conformational planarization

A novel family of thiophene-decorated phthalocyanines (M-TPcs) was efficiently synthesized, during which the key intermediate of these compounds was purified through a chemical approach. In the optimized geometries of M-TPcs, the peripherally linked thiophene rings are tilted from the Pc core, which oppose aggregation considering the mutual steric hindrance. However, Zn-TPc formed J-aggregates in many solvents while Ni-TPc and Cu-TPc did not. Octaphenyl-substituted zinc Pc (Zn-PPc) showed similar J-aggregation behavior as Zn-TPc. This unusual J-aggregation was attributed to the conformational planarization of the corresponding molecules.     

Synthesis, photophysical and thermal studies of symmetrical and unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanines

The novel zinc phthalocyanine (3) with malonylester and chloro groups on each benzo unit was synthesized from 4-diethoxymalonyl-5-chloro-phthalonitrile (1). The unsymmetrically substituted zinc phthalocyanine (5), carrying hexylthio, malonylester and chloro groups at the periphery, was obtained from 4-diethoxymalonyl-5-chloro-phthalonitrile (1) and 4,5-bis-hexylsulfanyl-phthalonitrile (2) by a statistical condensation method as an A₃B type unsymmetrical phthalocyanine compound. Transesterification of the malonyl esters of the new symmetrical and unsymmetrical phthalocyanines occurred during the cyclotetramerization of dinitriles with Zn(CH₃COO)₂ in 1-pentanol in the presence of DBU. Octa-hexylthio-substituted zinc phthalocyanine (4) was prepared according to the literature. The photophysical and thermal properties of all the phthalocyanine complexes are described for the first time. These novel symmetrical and unsymmetrical phthalocyanine macrocycles have been characterized by a series of spectroscopic methods including ¹H NMR, electronic absorption, IR and mass spectroscopy, in addition to elemental analysis. Their narrow long wavelength absorption band shows that the bulky substituents on the periphery prevent aggregation. The unsymmetrically substituted phthalocyanine (5) gave a greater fluorescence quantum yield in chloroform than the symmetrical analogues (3 and 4).     

Synthesis, characterization and nonlinear optical properties of nonaggregating hexadeca-substituted phthalocyanines

The microwave-assisted synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of hexadeca-substituted phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes with bulky phenoxy substituents are reported. NMR and UV-Vis analyses confirm the ability of bulky groups to induce steric isolation of Pc cores even in the solid state. The Z-scan measurement indicates that the Zn-containing derivative has promising nonlinear optical properties (NLOs).