Highly soluble phthalocyanines with hexadeca tert-butyl substituents

A phthalonitrile derivative bearing 2,4-di-tert-butylphenoxy substituents at peripheral positions was synthesized; subsequent cyclotetramerization in DMF and hexanol furnished the desired zinc (II), magnesium (II), copper (II) and nickel (II) phthalocyanines. These metallo-phthalocyanines were highly soluble in solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, n-hexane and DMF. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by elemental analyses, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, electronic spectra and mass spectroscopic methods.