Features of metal atom 2p excitations and electronic structure of 3d-metal phthalocyanines studied by X-ray absorption and resonant photoemission

► A strong influence of the 3d-shell occupancy and 3d-3d exchange interaction on the formation and decay of 2p core excitations in MPc's. ► The high-lying occupied as well as the low-lying unoccupied electronic states in NiPc, CoPc and FePc are mainly 3d derived states. ► Low-lying unoccupied electronic states of MPc's are strongly localized within the MN4 quasi-molecule.