Near Infrared Phosphorescent,Non‐oxidizable Palladium and Platinum Perfluoro‐phthalocyanines

New Pd^II and Pt^II complexes with a highly electron‐deficient ligand (H₂PcF₆₄) were conveniently prepared in a three‐step synthesis. This is the first time that the phosphorescence of phthalocyanines with a H₂PcF₆₄ framework has been measured. Based on these measurements, the triplet‐state energies (E_T) were directly determined. Transient absorption experiments revealed broad T₁→T_n absorption spanning from ca. 350 to ca. 1000 nm and allowed determination of the triplet‐state lifetimes. Removal of the Pd or Pt from the perfluoro‐phthalocyanine resulted in a significant increase of the triplet lifetime for H₂PcF₆₄. The very efficient intersystem crossing observed for both PdPcF₆₄ and PtPcF₆₄ leads to residual fluorescence and suppresses the fluorescence lifetimes to less than 50 ps. The absence of Pd and Pt in the perfluoro‐phthalocyanine ligand, viz. H₂PcF₆₄, led to a recovery of fluorescence. Cyclic voltamperometry studies pointed to complete resistance of PdPcF₆₄ and PtPcF₆₄ to oxidation and very strong electron affinity, which rendered these materials very good electron acceptors (n‐type materials). The presence of d‐orbital metals such as Pd^II and Pt^II in the phthalocyanine ring stabilizes their reduced forms, as indicated by the spectroelectrochemical experiments. PdPcF₆₄ and PtPcF₆₄ easily sensitize singlet oxygen production with very high quantum yields. Both phthalocyanines presented resistance to photodegradation in the solid state under aerobic conditions and under intense irradiation.