Effect of central metals and peripheral substituents on the third-order nonlinear optical properties of tetra-benzimidazole and benzothiazole substituted phthalocyanines

A series of tetra substituted phthalocyanines bearing 2-mercaptobenzimidazole or 2-mercaptobenzothiazole units with different central metals (Zn and In) were synthesized. Their photophysical properties including the parameters of fluorescence and triplet state were studied. The benzothiazole substituted phthalocyanines exhibit stronger third-order nonlinear optical properties (NLO) absorption effects, higher triplet quantum yield (ΦT) and faster intersystem crossing rate compared to the benzimidazole substituted phthalocyanines. With the same central metals, benzothiazole substituted phthalocyanine complexes have the lower fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF), the higher triplet quantum yield (ΦT) and the larger third-order NLO properties as a result of larger conjugated structure and spin-orbit coupling induced by sulphur atoms. The influences of the central metal atoms and the peripheral substituents on the third-order NLO properties are discussed using photophysical parameters.