The syntheses of amphiphilic antimony(V)-phthalocyanines and spectral investigation on their aggregation behaviors in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions

Three amphiphilic antimony(V)-phthalocyanines have been synthesized by treating [Sb(R4Pc)(OH)2]+ salts in concentrated H2SO4 and isolated as zwitter ions, [Sb(R4Pc)(SO4H)(SO4)], where R4Pc denotes tetra-substituted phthalocyaninate; R4Pc = pc (R = H), tbpc (R = tBu), and tObpc (R = OnBu). Their solubility (R = tbpc > pc > > tObpc in H2O (much improved by the presence of surfactant or alcohol) while tbpc > tObpc > > pc in CH2Cl2) and aggregation behaviors are highly sensitive to the nature of the peripheral substituents. The pc and tbpc derivatives form well-behaved J-aggregates in aqueous media in the presence of surfactant or alcohol.

Three new amphiphilic SbV-phthalocyanines have been synthesized and their aggregation behaviors in aqueous and non-aqueous media are spectroscopically studied.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Three amphiphilic antimony(V)-phthalocyanines have been synthesized.
► Their spectral properties in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions are studied.
► Effects of peripheral substituents on aggregation behavior are reported.