The synthesis and fluorescence behaviour of phthalocyanines unsymmetrically substituted with naphthol and carboxy groups

Unsymmetrically substituted phthalocyanines 8,15,22-tris-(naphtho)-2-(carboxy)phthalocyanine, [8,15,22-tris-(naphtho)-2-(carboxy)phthalocyanato]zinc(II), 8,15,22-tris-(naphtho)-4,5-(3-carboxy-1,2-dioxyphenyl)phthalocyanine and [8,15,22-tris-(naphtho)-4,5-(3-carboxy-1,2-dioxyphenoxy)phthalocyanato]zinc(II) were prepared using the mixed phthalonitrile cyclotetramerization of 3-(1-naphthoxy) phthalonitrile with a carboxylic acid phthalonitrile. The phthalocyanines were separated using column chromatography employing a mixture of THF, ammonia and water. The novel compounds were characterized using UV–Vis, IR, 1H NMR and mass spectrometry as well as elemental analysis. Fluorescence quantum yields were found to range from 0.05 to 0.16.