Solvent and central metal effects on the photophysical and photochemical properties of peripherally tetra mercaptopyridine substituted metallophthalocyanines

The synthesis of peripherally tetra 2-mercaptopyridine substituted phthalocyanines containing Si, Ga, Sn and In as central metal ions is reported for the first time in this study. Photophysical and photochemical studies were carried out on these compounds in order to determine the potential of the complexes as photosensitizers for use in photodynamic therapy. Fluorescence quantum yields (ΦF) ranged from 0.012 to 0.2 and triplet quantum yields (ΦT) from 0.54 to 0.89 in dimethylformamide (DMF) and from 0.65 to 0.93 in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The triplet lifetimes ranged from 20 to 130 μs, the low values are due to the heavy atom effects of the central metal. The triplet lifetimes were larger in DMSO when compared with DMF.