Synthesis of 3-nitrophthalonitrile and tetra-α-substituted phthalocyanines

An efficient synthesis of phthalocyanines prepared from ortho-substituted phthalonitriles is described. The precursor to these phthalocyanines, 3-nitrophthalonitrile, is a key reagent for syntheses of phthalonitriles substituted at the 3-position by means of nucleophilic aromatic substitutions. An example of this type of phthalocyanine, prepared from 3-(4-cumylphenoxy)phthalonitrile, is compared with the phthalocyanine derived from 4-(4-cumylphenoxy)phthalonitrile. Substitution of the phthalocyanine at this more sterically crowded site causes a 20 nm bathochromic shift of the Q-band (π-π* transition).